Dodgers 5, Royals 4: Snell Strikes Out 10, Muncy Wins It in the 10th

August 11, 2026 - Los Angeles - Blake Snell struck out the side on 13 pitches in the first inning. Seven of the first 10 batters he faced went down on strikes. Then the fourth inning happened, and a perfect return turned into a tie game and a no-decision.

Snell still struck out 10 in six innings. Mookie Betts went 3-for-4 with a homer and the tying RBI single in the eighth. Max Muncy singled home Shohei Ohtani in the 10th. The Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Kansas City Royals 5-4, and Snell's first start in three months still felt like the headline even without the win.

Seven K's through 10 batters, then Kansas City touched the plate

Snell had not pitched since May 9, when he gave up four runs in three innings against Atlanta before landing on the IL with loose bodies in his left elbow. Three rehab starts and four months later, he was back against Michael Wacha and the Royals.

Back-to-back singles from Bobby Witt Jr. and Jac Caglianone in the fourth ended the zeroes. Salvador Perez tied it 1-1 with a sacrifice fly. That was the only run off Snell: six innings, three hits, one walk, 10 strikeouts.

Betts homered and doubled. Alex Call drove in a run with a two-out single in the second after Betts doubled and took third on a flyout. Los Angeles led 2-1 before the bullpen made the night longer than it needed to be.

Phillips wobbled, Betts tied it, Muncy finished it

Evan Phillips blew a save in the eighth, allowing three hits and three runs (two earned). Kansas City took a 4-3 lead. Betts singled home a run off Steven Cruz to tie it at 4-4. Extra innings. Ohtani started the 10th as the automatic runner, went 0-for-4 with a walk and a steal, and still scored the winning run when Muncy singled to right-center off Lucas Erceg.

Seth Halvorsen got the win in relief. The Dodgers had lost eight of their last 10 entering Tuesday. They needed a night where the ace looked like an ace even if the pen did not.

Third straight year, second-half Snell

For the third consecutive season, Snell is returning from injury after the All-Star break. Los Angeles is 72-48 and still NL West-leading. Kansas City is 49-72 and lost another one-run game on the road. Wacha worked 6 2/3 and allowed three earned. The Royals tied it twice and still left without a win.

I am not declaring the rotation fixed because Snell struck out 10. I am interested in whether he can do it again on normal rest, and whether Betts' 3-for-4 night is the start of the lineup catching up to a staff that just got its Cy Young winner back.

AthX Engine angle

Snell led every pitcher on the Tuesday slate with 24 AthX Engine pitching fantasy points despite the no-decision. Betts led hitters with 11. Los Angeles finished with 9 team fantasy points. Kansas City had 2.

Track Snell, Betts, and the Dodgers on the marketplace. AthX Engine scores the night. Share price is a separate market number.

*Sources: MLB.com schedule, ESPN recap, ESPN story on Snell's return, AthX Engine daily scoring for August 11, 2026. Information only; not financial advice.*