We knew Blake Snell was close to coming back, but not this close.

Snell was supposed to make a rehab start for the Ontario Tower Buzzers on Saturday, clearing him for a return to the Boys in Blue next week.

Instead, it appears Snell is heading back to the mound in Dodger Stadium tomorrow to take on the NL-best Atlanta Braves.

Saturday is also Blake Snell “Starter Series” bobblehead night.

Where has Blake Snell been?

Snell has been recovering from a shoulder injury, and he’s been rehabbing in the minor leagues recently, including with the Tower Buzzers and the Oklahoma City Comets.

He had another rehab start with the Tower Buzzers set for Saturday in Rancho Cucamonga, which Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register said was likely to be Snell’s last rehab start before returning to the Dodgers.

As it turns out, he came back early, though that does present a hiccup for the Dodgers.

What will the Dodgers do with another pitcher on the roster?

Snell’s return means the team now has seven starters for a six-man rotation.

Tyler Glasnow’s recent injury might give the Dodgers a bit more time to make a decision if they put him on the injured list, but manager Dave Roberts has said that’s unlikely.

If Glasnow remains active, someone has to go, and likely choices include Roki Sasaki and Emmet Sheehan.

It’s possible the Dodgers could move Justin Wrobleski to the bullpen to make room, but he has a 1.25 ERA so far this season, and moving him could mess with his hot start.

So between Sasaki and Sheehan, both of whom have ERAs over 5.00, the decision comes down to balancing what they offer now and their potential.

Sasaki has said he is open to a move to the minors if the team thinks it’s best, but Dodgers Nation’s Nelson Espinal made the case that Sasaki’s potential for improvement can be best realized if he stays in the majors.

“There is no better way for him to figure things out against the top level of competition,” Espinal wrote.