Dodgers big concern alleviated as Blake Snell returns in win over Giants

SAN FRANCISCO — In Blake Snell’s final start of the regular season on Saturday, the stats didn’t matter so much.Just that his previously ailing groin was no longer an issue.The last time Snell pitched, of course, his late-season health status was thrown into sudden doubt.He managed just one inning during his Sept.

16 start in Cincinnati.He made an early exit because of tightness in his left groin.

And for a few days, there was concern about what it would mean for his postseason availability — and the state of the Dodgers’ rotation.Those fears died down quickly, though.Over the last week, Snell’s groin improved enough to throw a couple of bullpen sessions.Thus, for one final time before the playoffs, he took the mound in the Dodgers’ 4-3 win against the Giants on Saturday and assuaged any health concerns for good (or so the Dodgers hope).Snell certainly wasn’t spectacular at Oracle Park.Though he allowed just one run, he managed only four innings on an inefficient 77 pitches, failing to reach the five-inning target manager Dave Roberts had roughly set before the game.Still, all the Dodgers wanted to see was him get through the day healthy.“If he can go five innings and come out of it feeling great, that’d be fantastic,” Roberts said.Roberts acknowledged there was some consideration given this week to just skipping Snell’s last start and letting him rest up for the playoffs, perhaps by giving him a session of live batting practice instead.However, the club was wary of giving the two-time Cy Young Award winner too long of a pre-October layoff.And though he has a history of left groin issues — battling three separate episodes over the last half-decade that each sidelined him for at least three weeks to a month — Roberts noted there was enough improvement with Snell’s groin to throw him out one more time.“There was a lot of confidence that he’s in a great spot,” Roberts said.The Dodgers will need more out of Snell in the playoffs th...