Justin

Wrobleski

Wrobleski heads back to the minors after getting blasted for five runs – four earned – over 4 2/3 innings on Saturday in a bulk relief outing against the Astros. The 24-year-old lefty holds a respectable 4.50 ERA and 40/10 K/BB ratio across 40 innings (eight appearances, two starts) this season in the big leagues. He’ll operate in a swingman-type role in the second half when he gets another shot.

He struck out six, but he gave up seven hits, including a Yainer Diaz homer. With an off day Thursday, the Dodgers might send down Wrobleski through the All-Star break and get him some work in Triple-A. If not, he could again pitch in a bulk role Friday or Saturday.

Ohtani touched triple digits and reeled off a pair of scoreless innings last Saturday against the Royals in his second start of the year. It’ll be Justin Wrobleski making a bulk relief appearance following his outing. The 30-year-old two-way sensation won’t provide enough volume to make a significant impact for fantasy purposes in the pitching department, but he’s looked like a potential top-of-the-rotation starter in the brief glimpses we’ve gotten to see. It’s surreal to watch him continue excelling in two completely different skills at the absolute highest level in the entire sport.

Lou Trivino operated as the opener for the Dodgers on Sunday. He gave up one run on a pair of hits in the first inning. Wrobleski followed with six impressive shutout innings, scattering three hits and one walk while striking out six batters. The 24-year-old left-hander has allowed just four total runs over his last four outings. He holds a 4.08 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, and a 34/9 K/BB ratio across 35 1/3 innings. His next outing is scheduled to come next Sunday at home against the Astros.

Jack Dreyer drew the start as the opener for the Dodgers in Colorado on Tuesday. He gave up a run in the first inning on a base hit and a double. Wrobleski took over in the second and gave up two runs on five hits and two walks over five innings while collecting seven strikeouts on his way to a win. The 24-year-old left-hander ends the day with a 4.91 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and a 28/8 K/BB ratio across 29 1/3 innings. His next appearance is set to come Sunday in Kansas City against the Royals.

Justin Wrobleski is expected to be the bulk guy. He last pitched Wednesday, when he threw 74 pitches over five innings in relief. It’ll be Dreyer’s fifth time opening this season. He’s not going to get a chance to face a lefty unless he lasts six batters until Ryan McMahon comes up.

It’s a shame that Wrobleski doesn’t have five scoreless frames, as he was ever-so-impressive over the first four innings after relieving Emmet Sheehan. He held the Padres scoreless and to just one hit in that timeframe, but he faltered late while allowing two runs — one of them unearned — to tie the game. Still, this was a solid effort, and one that might earn Wrobleski a chance to start in the coming days/weeks.

Wrobleski, who was recalled today after three weeks in Triple-A, split the difference tonight after giving up eight runs in his lone appearance in April and no runs in his other outing in May. It’s uncertain if the Dodgers plan to give him a real shot here. They will need a fifth starter again on Wednesday, but they might just send him down for a fresh arm and deal with Wednesday when it comes.

Wrobleski gets the call to make the start Friday against the Cardinals. The right-hander will likely have a short leash, and his lack of consistent success at the highest level would make him a very risky streaming option for Friday’s tilt.

Dodgers’ skipper Dave Roberts had said before Thursday’s game that he was undecided on whether the team would go with a bullpen day on Friday or promote a spot starter instead. The Dodgers’ bullpen had to cover 5 2/3 innings after Landon Knack couldn’t get out of the fourth inning on Thrusday, making it extremely likely that it’ll be Wrobleski getting the ball instead.