The Los Angeles Dodgers starting rotation looked to be one of the best on paper entering this season, with multiple All-Star arms and Cy Young finalists headlining the group.
Unfortunately, that has not been the case, as they have dealt with major injuries to both right-hander Tyler Glasnow and left-hander Blake Snell, with the former Tampa Bay Rays duo making just eight total starts past the midway point of the season.
However, in their absence, one player in particular has thrived and filled the void, and that player is left-hander Justin Wrobleski.
Injuries forced Wrobleski into a starter's role and he has not looked back. Across 15 games this year, the 25-year-old has gone 10-2 with a 2.80 ERA, generating weak contact at an elite level.
© D. Ross Cameron-Imagn Images
Despite Wrobleski's success, he still has not received national recognition at this year's All-Star Game.
Not only was Wrobleski not selected on the All-Star roster, but MLB announced three replacements for the National League on Tuesday in Jesus Luzardo of the Philadelphia Phillies, Braxton Ashcraft of the Pittsburgh Pirates and Riley O'Brien of the St. Louis Cardinals.
There is still a chance more players do not participate, but as of this writing Wrobleski has still not been chosen.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has publicly praised Wrobleski and pressured MLB to include him, continuing to voice his concern ahead of Tuesday's game against the Colorado Rockies.
"He's won 10 games for us. To be able to get pitching decisions, you've got to go deeper in games. The ERA is stellar, innings per outing. I just think that he's performed enough to earn that opportunity," Roberts said (h/t Katie Woo of The Athletic).
Roberts is not wrong. Wrobleski currently ranks eighth in ERA in the National League and has thrown 93 1/3 innings, more than enough to be considered. In fact, Luzardo, who was selected Tuesday, actually carries an ERA nearly a full run higher than Wrobleski's.
It is unclear why Wrobleski has not gotten the nod, but it is clear Roberts wants him at Citizens Bank Park next weekend.
