If you asked the casual Los Angeles Dodgers fan to name the current starting rotation, I doubt the first name out of their mouth would be Justin Wrobleski. Shohei Ohtani? Sure. Yoshinobu Yamamoto? Probably. But definitely not Wrobleski. However, it is very doubtful that the Dodgers would reside atop the National League West with the left-hander who has proven to be better than advertised thus far in 2026.
Justin Wrobleski: The Dodgers’ Hidden Ace
Just in Time for the Dodgers
Wrobleski was first called up in the middle of the 2024 season to join a rotation riddled with injury. He did his job as a stopgap measure, although his ERA of over five was hurt because of the propensity to give up home runs. The left-hander gave up nine home runs in 36 1/3 innings. Not good. In 2025, he spent most of his time in the bullpen with an occasional spot start. For what it’s worth, he improved his ERA by nearly a run and a half and reduced his home run total by a third, all the while pitching nearly 30 more innings. It is easy to forget his crucial role in Game Seven of the 2025 World Series against the Toronto Blue Jays. He held them at bay until the Dodgers could muster a comeback.
Dodgers Relief Pitcher Justin Wrobleski on pitching in this epic game seven thriller of the 2025 World Series, the benches clearing after he hit Gimenez, and becoming a world champion. pic.twitter.com/a5t6VtYnML
— Michael J. Duarte (@michaeljduarte) November 2, 2025
Fitting Right In
Coming into spring training this year, the Dodgers said they would reprise the six-man rotation. Wrobleski would get his chance to fight for a spot simply because the Dodgers like his fastball. Who wouldn’t when it’s 95+ mph? The potential for swing-and-miss is too good to ignore. Nevertheless, Wrobleski was slated to be a piggy-back option to relieve Shohei Ohtani and others as needed. That is, until injuries intervened.
The Right Man for the Job
It soon became clear that left-hander Blake Snell wouldn’t be ready for the start of the season due to shoulder fatigue. Enter Justin Wrobleski. The left-hander may have the power and velocity to get the “swing and miss.” He has just 27 strikeouts in 50 innings pitched. However, his strength this season has been to “pitch to contact.” He does this by primarily using a two-pitch mix of slider and fastball. His current ERA is 2.49. His current record is 6-1. He works quickly and doesn’t wait for the pitch clock to wind down. This keeps his defense on their toes, and as a result, they have made some incredible catches behind him. It reminds people of the importance of pitching instead of throwing.
Justin Wrobleski, Wicked 88mph Back Foot Slider. 🤢 pic.twitter.com/4NsE5NJ2vh
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) May 17, 2026
Good Efficiency and Length
Wrobleski averages 17.5 outs per outing, which is near the top of the majors. In fact, He has gone at least six innings in five out of his last six starts. Now, with Snell out after elbow surgery, the length per outing is even more important if the Dodgers are going to win consistently and preserve a bullpen without their injured closer, Edwin Díaz.
Yes, he did have one bad outing against the Atlanta Braves in which he struggled with location and gave up seven runs. The left-hander didn’t help himself with a first-inning error. However, he was still able to go almost eight innings despite the loss. This is a mixed blessing when two members of the starting rotation are sidelined. When he does give up runs, it seems like he is able to limit the damage to the bare minimum. This reflects a poise that may not have always been present.
The Dodgers came into American Family Field on a roll. However, there is a saying in baseball that your momentum is only as good as tonight’s starting pitcher. We will see if Wrobleski and the Dodgers can keep it going in Milwaukee this weekend.
Main Photo Credit: Jason Parkhurst-USA TODAY Sports
