Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Justin Wrobleski is making a compelling case for a spot in the team's postseason rotation, despite the club's initial plans. Wrobleski, who reinvented himself over the offseason to become an All-Star, pitched into the seventh inning of the Dodgers’ 2-1 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies on Tuesday night. He limited the Phillies to one run over 6 ⅓ innings, outdueling three-time All-Star Zack Wheeler.
Wrobleski, a 26-year-old left-hander, currently holds an 11-2 record with a 2.62 earned-run average. Despite his strong performance this season, the Dodgers have not initially planned for him to be part of their four-man playoff rotation, which anticipates the return of pitchers like Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Shohei Ohtani, Blake Snell, and Tyler Glasnow. Even in scenarios where one of these key pitchers is unavailable, Wrobleski was reportedly expected to be moved to the bullpen.
However, Wrobleski's recent outings may be causing the team to reconsider. In his last three starts, he has struck out 27 batters in 21 innings. This improved ability to miss bats could alleviate concerns the Dodgers have had about his performance against top teams, such as the Atlanta Braves and Milwaukee Brewers.
Manager Dave Roberts noted Wrobleski's resilience, stating, “He doesn’t run from the challenge.” Wrobleski departed the game against the Phillies with a manageable pitch count of 89, a decision Roberts attributed to workload management. Wrobleski has pitched 106 ⅔ innings this season, approaching the 123 ⅓ innings he threw last year across the minors and majors.
Wrobleski himself expressed a focus on daily improvement rather than altering the team's postseason plans. "I don’t go out there hoping to show anyone anything anymore," Wrobleski said. "When you do that, that’s when you get in trouble and you start to kind of lose sight of what’s important, and what’s important for me is getting better every day and every time I take the mound, just continuing to improve and get better."
He added, "Whatever that capacity is, whether it’s doing whatever in the playoffs, no matter what it is, my goal is always the same: Just go out there and get better with each outing. The chips are going to fall where they’re going to fall."
Wrobleski's performance on Tuesday included seven strikeouts, a notable aspect of his game. He throws more pitches in the strike zone than other Dodgers starters, which has allowed him to pitch seven or more innings in seven of his 15 starts. His continued success could influence the Dodgers' decision-making as the postseason approaches.