Dodgers need All-Star starter to rediscover himself in move to bullpen
Justin Wrobleski is trying to find his old self.The Dodgers are hoping a new role will help.Two months ago, Wrobleski was emerging as the feel-good story of the two-time defending champions’ season.He had earned a spot in the Dodgers’ rotation.He had blossomed into an All-Star-caliber pitcher.
He had an historic appearance in the Midsummer Classic.He seemed, potentially, like an option to start games in the playoffs amid their three-peat pursuit.But then came home run problems, with Wrobleski allowing 11 of them in a four-start stretch that saw him give up 19 total earned runs in just 19 ⅔ innings.That was followed by a trip to the injured list, with a bout of forearm inflammation sidelining the 26-year-old left-hander for the second half of August.On Tuesday, Wrobleski was activated from the IL as one of the Dodgers’ late-season reinforcements, with rosters expanding from 26 to 28 players.However, the third-year big-leaguer was given a new task for the rest of the campaign, being moved to the bullpen in hopes it could help him rediscover his early-season success.“I’m really anxious to see how it looks in short spurts,” manager Dave Roberts said of Wrobleski’s transition.
“I do think the stuff will tick up.”This was a plan that worked for the Dodgers last year.As a multi-inning relief option last October, he delivered five scoreless innings out of the bullpen during the World Series –– including back-to-back outings in Games 6 and 7 of their repeat triumph in Toronto.The Dodgers envision a similarly important role for their former 11th-round draft pick now.They want Wrobleski available for high-leverage moments, or bulk outings if needed.
They see him as an integral part of their postseason pitching plan –– even if he has been squeezed out of the rotation by bigger stars in Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell, Tarik Skubal and Tyler Glasnow.But first, Wrobleski will have to rectify a home run problem that continues to fester, after he was ...