Justin Wrobleski Filling Role Out Of Dodgers Bullpen

The Los Angeles Dodgers received an infusion of bullpen talent before the trade deadline passed on Thursday by acquiring Brock Stewart from the Minnesota Twins, and Paul Gervase from the Tampa Bay Rays in a three-team deal that also included the Cincinnati Reds.

Meanwhile, the Dodgers previously supplemented the group by moving Ben Casparius back into the bullpen and having Justin Wrobleski take on a temporary relief role.

Only two of Wrobleski’s nine appearances with the Dodgers this season have been starts. That’s despite being drafted and developed as a starting pitcher. He’s handled a starter’s workload when entering out of the bullpen, averaging about five innings per appearance.

Wrobleski was recalled on July 27 and pitched two innings out of the bullpen against the Boston Red Sox that same day. Manager Dave Roberts said the Dodgers plan to continue with the left-hander in that role going forward, according to Craig Forde of MLB.com:

“He’s going to be in the ‘pen,” Roberts said of Wrobleski’s role. “He’s a starter, but I think that just trying to get a quality arm, add some length potentially, but still using him in two-inning spurts, three-inning spurts, will be helpful for our ‘pen.”

This puts Wrobleski as another long-relief option alongside Casparius. Pitching as a reliever is not Wrobleski’s natural role, with 61 of his 69 appearances in the Minors being starts. But the Dodgers want to put together the best group of options they can in the bullpen.

With the Dodgers set to have a full rotation once Blake Snell is activated on Saturday, adding Wrobleski to the bullpen is how they can best make use of his talents.

In 42 innings this season, he has a 4.29 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and has struck out nearly nine batters per nine innings.

Ben Casparius adjusting back to Dodgers bullpen

The Dodgers have asked a lot of Casparius this season, shuffling him between different roles in their pitching staff. He was highly effective to start the season, but struggled in his last 13 appearances, with a 7.50 ERA and 1.60 WHIP in 30 innings of work.

Casparius was moved back to the bullpen after briefly being a part of the starting rotation and is working to get back to what made him effective in the early part of the year.