Dave Roberts Noncommittal On Potential Starting Rotation Decisions

The Los Angeles Dodgers are on track to activate Blake Snell from the 15-day injured list at some point this month, which will eventually lead to a shakeup in their starting rotation.

It makes the next couple of weeks important for the starters at the backend of the Dodgers’ rotation.

“Yes, short answer,” manager Dave Roberts answered when asked if an evaluation of sorts was going to take place. “But I would like to think that regardless of if Blake is coming back or not, their focus to perform at a high level is unchanged. But yeah, there’s a point where once he comes back, we’re going to have to make a decision.”

The current Dodgers rotation consists of Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tyler Glasnow, Roki Sasaki, Emmet Sheehan and Justin Wrobleski.

While there is a conversation to be had about the final three names on that list, the reality is that the decision will seemingly be between Sheehan and Wrobleski.

Wrobleski began this season pitching out of the bullpen, but he has been lights-out since being given an opportunity to start.

Sheehan has also been much improved from the beginning of this campaign, but his progress did take a step back on Friday against the St. Louis Cardinals.

Roberts praised the way Wrobleski has been throwing the baseball, but said nothing is off the table when the time comes to make a decision. For now, the Dodgers’ skipper remains noncommittal about the team’s plans for the starting six.

“If we get to that point it’s going to be a good conversation, a tougher conversation with someone,” Roberts said. “But I do think Justin is throwing the heck out of the baseball and he’s cemented himself as a Major League pitcher.

“And whatever role I think we see for any of our guys, I would expect complete buy-in. Again, I don’t want to go too far into it because we’re still weeks away from that really being a question that’s viable. But yeah, everything is going to be on the table.”

The Dodgers’ rotation has the second-lowest era in the Majors entering Sunday.

Brock Stewart nearing return

The Dodgers began the season without Brock Stewart in their bullpen due to his ongoing recovery from having right shoulder surgery late last year.

Roberts noted Stewart’s activation would become a “real conversation” once he completed back-to-back appearances, which was just achieved. However, Stewart is expected to pitch for Triple-A Oklahoma City again on Sunday.

Thus, the early estimate would appear to be he returns once the Dodgers are back from their road trip.