Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander Justin Wrobleski spent most of the season as a starter, but will return as a bullpen arm, per Sonja Chen of MLB.com.
“Sounds like Justin Wrobleski, who pitched for OKC last night, is also close to returning to LA (in a relief role),” Chen wrote via X.
Wrobleski had a solid first half of the season with the Dodgers, making 16 appearances with the team—the final 15 of which came as a starter. He had a 2.69 ERA at the All-Star break, earning his first All-Star selection in the process. He pitched two innings in the All-Star Game, striking out five batters and allowing one run—a home run from former Dodger Miguel Vargas.
After the All-Star Game, though, Wrobleski began to struggle. Through five starts after the All-Star break, Wrobleski had a 6.92 ERA through 26 innings, alloiwing 11 homers for 20 earned runs and striking out 27 batters.
The Dodgers placed him on the injured list Aug. 16 after his last start against the Milwaukee Brewers, during which he allowed four runs across six innings pitched. The official reason for his IL move was forearm tightness.
Wrobleski made his first rehab start Saturday with Triple-A Oklahoma City, where he allowed one earned one with three hits through 1.1 innings, striking out two batters.
Why Isn’t Justin Wrobleski Going Into the Rotation?
Wrobleski, if he returns to his first half form, is a fantastic pitcher, but the Dodgers may not have space to fit him in the rotation when everyone’s healthy.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tarik Skubal, Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow all currently have spots in the rotation, and Roki Sasaki is sure to command a spot as well when he returns from a blister on his middle finger. Shohei Ohtani would likely grab the final spot in the Dodgers’ six-man rotation, but he doesn’t have a concrete return date after the Dodgers denied him a start on Sunday.
Having Wrobleski back will be good for the Dodgers, as their rotation hasn’t managed to stay healthy throughout the 2026 season, meaning he will serve as a valuable depth piece for the starters and a strong long relief arm for the bullpen.
