LOS ANGELES — Blake Snell took another commanding step toward his return to the Los Angeles Dodgers rotation on Sunday, delivering a dominant rehab start in front of a packed crowd at LoanMart Field in Ontario, California, and then revealing a clear roadmap for his next moves.

The two-time Cy Young Award winner, sidelined since early in the season with a lingering arm issue, looked sharp and in control during his outing, striking out multiple batters while showcasing the curveball that has long been his signature weapon. In an exclusive postgame interview, Snell made it clear that he is no longer just testing his health. He is now hunting for results.

“I felt really good,” Snell said, his voice carrying a mix of relief and determination. “I got the curveball going. That’s the pitch that makes everything easier. When I have that, I can pitch the way I want to pitch.”

Snell’s performance was a stark contrast to his first two rehab outings, which he described as exercises in patience. Those starts were about coming out healthy and ensuring the pitch mix was working. But on Sunday, the left-hander admitted he abandoned that cautious approach.

“I thought I was going to be more patient, but I was definitely a little more aggressive to get it going,” Snell said. “I felt in control. I wanted results.”

The outing drew a massive crowd of Dodgers fans who traveled to the minor league ballpark specifically to see Snell. The team even played a video tribute for him before he took the mound, a gesture that drew a laugh from the pitcher.

“No, not at all,” Snell joked when asked if the video helped. “Maybe like WTL. I prefer Kendrick. He’s a lot better.”

But the levity quickly gave way to serious talk about his recovery. Snell revealed that his next start is scheduled for Sunday, likely with Triple-A Oklahoma City, though he noted he might be heading to Austin instead. He expects to ramp up to around 60 pitches.

“I think yeah, they’ll tell me,” Snell said. “I know it’s Sunday, I believe, so yeah.”

The pitcher was effusive in his praise for the ballpark itself, calling it “unreal” and noting that it felt more like a Triple-A facility than a lower-level minor league stadium. He also acknowledged the overwhelming support from Dodgers fans.

“It was cool,” Snell said. “I was expecting it just because a lot of people were messaging me about it. I was fired up that they showed support and love. It meant a lot to me.”

Snell also addressed a moment that went viral during the game. After buying fans a round of $5 beers, he threw three consecutive fastballs, daring hitters to make contact.

“I’ve done it before, so I wasn’t scared to do it again,” Snell said with a grin. “I heard it and I was like, ‘Okay, I’m going to throw three fastballs to see if you can hit it.’”

But the focus quickly returned to the business at hand. Snell identified two key areas he needs to sharpen before rejoining the Dodgers rotation: consistency with his curveball and command of his fastball.

“I really got to get the curveball going,” Snell emphasized. “When I get that pitch going, it just makes pitching a lot easier. This week, we’re going to focus on that. And I’m really going to focus on commanding the ball, the fastball better.”

He described the third inning of his rehab start as a development inning specifically for his curveball, which he admitted has been frustrating.

“That’s pretty frustrating for me,” Snell said. “So that third inning was more about development of the pitch.”

Snell also opened up about the mental battle of the rehab process, balancing patience with aggression. He said it comes down to trust and self-awareness.

“Really talking to yourself and figuring out how I feel,” Snell explained. “I felt really good, so I felt like I could go a little more and get results.”

The pitcher was candid about his desire to rejoin his teammates. He has been watching from afar, posting on social media and rooting for the Dodgers, but he made it clear that he wants to contribute.

“I love rooting for them. I love their success,” Snell said. “I definitely want to contribute. I feel like I’m a big part of the team. I want to help badly. I can’t wait, but I’m going to be patient and make sure I do everything the right way. When it’s my time, I’ll be ready.”

Reflecting on the past year, Snell acknowledged that he may have been pitching through injury before the season started. He said he came into the season feeling good but was rushing, overwhelmed by excitement for his first year as a Dodger.

“I was so excited,” Snell admitted. “First year as a Dodger, I’m not going to be excited about it? And then I took the rehab process seriously. I was patient with it. When it got to the postseason, that’s when I was like, ‘Man, I got to battle.’ This is why I came here was the postseason. I’ll battle through it. I’ll do it every time.”

He credited the Dodgers organization for handling his recovery with care, even when he wanted to push harder.

“They’re taking their time, for sure,” Snell said. “We got to get past this, and I need to be out there and stay out there. We’ve had good meetings. They do it the right way. They’ve been really good with me. It’s been tough because I’ve been wanting to push them, but there’s a reason why they’re the Dodgers. They’re really good at everything.”

When asked which teammates he misses most in the dugout, Snell didn’t hesitate.

“All the starting pitchers,” he said. “Those are my guys. I love messing with Yadi and Sheehan, for sure. I’ve been doing a lot of that. But yeah, the whole team. I love everybody here.”

As for what he will tell his teammates about the ballpark in Ontario, Snell was succinct.

“It’s beautiful,” he said. “Enjoy it. It’s nice, really nice.”

Snell’s next start will be a critical test. If he can build on Sunday’s performance and refine his curveball and fastball command, the Dodgers could have a fully operational ace ready for the stretch run. For now, Snell is focused on the process, one pitch at a time.

“I’m going to face Triple-A hitters on the road a lot more,” Snell said. “That’s going to probably be my main focus. And then on the drive, I’ll figure out. I’ll have time to myself to really talk and go through it.”

The Dodgers and their fans are watching closely. Blake Snell is coming back, and he is coming back with a purpose.