GLENDALE, Ariz. — With uncertainty surrounding left-hander Blake Snell’s readiness for Opening Day, the Dodgers are assessing their choices to fill his spot within the rotation. One of many prime arms within the combine is fellow southpaw Justin Wrobleski.
The Dodgers have but to rule Snell out for Opening Day, however his progress has been minimal as he slow-plays his throwing development resulting from lingering left shoulder discomfort early within the offseason. He’s taking part in catch out to about 90 ft, whereas the 5 others within the projected season-opening rotation have already confronted hitters at the least as soon as.
There are a number of packing containers to test in a restricted period of time, and the Dodgers aren’t going to hurry the method in an effort to get Snell in an enormous league recreation in April. They need to do issues the fitting method on the entrance finish in order that he is usually a think about October.
“With Blake,” supervisor Dave Roberts mentioned, “it’s a wait-and-see.”
L.A. has a wealth of starting-pitching depth, and Wrobleski put himself close to the highest of the record after a profitable stint pitching in aid.
Wrobleski, 25, started final yr on an inauspicious notice after giving up eight runs in 5 innings in an April spot begin towards the Nationals. However after just a few months of going backwards and forwards between Triple-A and the Majors, Wrobleski was capable of persist with the Dodgers from late July by way of the top of the season, primarily pitching in lengthy aid. He posted a 4.32 ERA in 66 2/3 innings throughout 24 appearances, additionally recording a 2.92 FIP.
Within the World Sequence, Wrobleski emerged as one of many few bullpen arms that Roberts may belief. He was on the roster in each postseason sequence however didn’t make it right into a recreation till Recreation 1 in Toronto, when he tossed the primary of his 5 scoreless innings within the seven-game sequence. That included appearances in must-win Video games 6 and seven.
“It is nice to see that the group and Doc and everyone right here trusts me in these huge spots. It positively offers you confidence transferring ahead,” Wrobleski mentioned Thursday. “Figuring out that you are able to do it within the largest spots makes it a bit totally different going into the common season. However I believe on the finish of the day, even these video games, you attempt to deal with every little thing the identical.”
That is kind of Wrobleski’s philosophy relating to his function in 2026. Whether or not he begins or relieves, his focus is on getting outs and executing the issues he can management. His prolonged stick with the Dodgers on the finish of final season allowed him to determine what he must do to achieve success on the huge league degree, and he’ll take that data into no matter function the Dodgers want from him.
That’s a method the staff noticed him develop final yr.
“I believe his capacity to develop and mature and discover ways to harness his stuff and compete in these moments will serve him nicely as he tries to navigate a lineup two, thrice,” president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman mentioned. “He’ll definitely be a candidate. He was additionally so good out of the ‘pen, we have now to weigh that.”
Past Snell’s standing, one other query impacting the rotation is how stretched out Shohei Ohtani might be as a pitcher by Opening Day. Whereas the Dodgers aren’t seeking to ramp him up as progressively as they did final yr, he’ll possible be restricted innings-wise to start out the season.
That is the place Wrobleski’s versatility may additionally assist him win an Opening Day roster spot over fellow candidates Gavin Stone and River Ryan, who haven’t pitched in affiliated video games since 2024 resulting from main surgical procedures. Wrobleski has much more aid expertise, and if Ohtani is proscribed to 2 or three innings on the season’s onset, Wrobleski may pitch in bulk behind him.
“If I am ready for a number of innings, if I am ready as a starter, then I can all the time do no matter,” Wrobleski mentioned. “I believe it is simply be prepared for no matter will get thrown my method.”
