Returning from left forearm tightness, Justin Wrobleski shifts to relief to stabilize a taxed Los Angeles Dodgers bullpen while managing his career-high workload.
The Los Angeles Dodgers could soon receive an important addition to a bullpen that has struggled to stay healthy throughout the season.
Justin Wrobleski began a rehab assignment Saturday with Oklahoma City and is expected to join the Dodgers in Los Angeles this week, according to manager Dave Roberts.
The 26-year-old was selected as an alternate for the 2026 All-Star team before landing on the 15-day Injured List in on Aug. 16 because of left forearm tightness.
Wrobleski’s recent issues
Wrobleski had been carrying a significant workload before the injury.
He has thrown 126.1 innings this season, nearly 60 more than the 66.2 he pitched last year, and his performance declined noticeably after the All-Star break.
Rather than returning him to the rotation, Roberts expects Wrobleski to work out of the bullpen.
Roberts told The Orange County Register that the Dodgers will reevaluate the plan, but his expectation is that Wrobleski will remain in relief.
“We’re going to reevaluate what the plan is for him,” Roberts said. “But my assumption is he’ll stay in the ‘pen.”
Before the All-Star break, the left-hander posted a career-best 2.69 ERA with a 10-2 record in 100.1 innings over 16 appearances (15 starts).
Wrobleski surrendered 19 earned runs in 19.2 innings across his last four starts, causing his ERA to climb from 2.62 to 3.56 during that stretch.
The increase in home runs surrendered was alarming.
Wrobleski surrendered only eight home runs over his first 17 appearances (16 starts), but he has surrendered 11 since July 28. This includes back-to-back starts in which he surrendered four home runs against both the Seattle Mariners and Chicago Cubs.
When Wrobleski was placed on the Injured List, Roberts said Los Angeles was not concerned about a long-term absence and believed reducing his workload was the smart approach given how much he had already pitched.
“Given his workload and where he’s at, taking some of the load off his arm, I think it’s smart,” Roberts explained.
What’s next for Wrobleski?
Wrobleski’s potential return comes as the Dodgers’ rotation has become significantly deeper.
Tyler Glasnow is back and has pitched well after recovering from the lower back injury that sidelined him since early May.
Blake Snell, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Tarik Skubal also give Los Angeles a loaded rotation that is still missing Shohei Ohtani and Roki Sasaki. They also have a difficult Eric Lauer decision.
Ohtani’s pitching status remains uncertain because of lingering left knee and right biceps injuries.
Sasaki recently developed a blister, although the Dodgers appear comfortable enough with their rotation depth that Wrobleski is not expected to return as a starter.
That could make him particularly valuable in relief.
Wrobleski’s ability to cover multiple innings gives Roberts flexibility in games where a starter exits early or the bullpen is heavily taxed.
His starting background should also help him handle longer relief appearances without being limited to one inning.
The left-hander brings more than workload capacity.
He has shown the ability to attack hitters, work through lineups and compete with confidence when his command is sharp.
Moving to the bullpen could also allow his stuff to play differently in shorter bursts while reducing the physical demands that came with his expanded workload.
For a Dodgers bullpen that needs more dependable options, Wrobleski could become an important multi-inning weapon during the final month and into the postseason.
