Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Justin Wrobleski left Thursday’s game against the Pittsburgh Pirates in the fifth inning.
Wrobleski, after giving up two home runs in the fifth inning, a solo shot and then a two-run blast, was down to the last out of the inning when he caught a ground ball to the thigh.
The ball bounced off Wrobleski, and Freddie Freeman went after it, with the pitcher covering first base for the putout when the back of his leg got caught.
The lefty could have gotten hurt at different points in that play, either when getting hit by the ball or when getting his legs tangled with the runner.
Wrobleski was notably upset after being taken out, which could have been either frustration over his early exit and inability to finish his fifth frame or a reaction to a possible injury.
Will Klein came in and allowed two hits and a walk, leading to the game going from a 5-0 lead at the start of the fifth inning to 5-4 by the end of it.
How did Wrobleski’s start go?
He struggled with his command more than usual, not hitting the zone as often as he usually does. This led to more action on the bases than normally expected from Wrobleski this year.
His velocity was up on the day as well, a trend that has been a positive development for a pitcher of his potential.
He gave up six hits on the night and two total walks, getting just one strikeout.
It was a poor outing given his standard this year. He hung two sliders that were punished for home runs, and the baserunner that he left upon his exit ended up scoring when Klein entered the game.
Wrobleski has plenty to be frustrated about, given how he has raised the bar for his performance baseline this year.
This story will be updated as more information becomes available about Wrobleski’s status.
