The Los Angeles have increased their pitching struggle this season, including 14 pitchers on the injured list.
The side effect is that minor league pitchers with optional years are coming and going in and out of the show as the pitching roster is constantly shuffling due to injuries.
Players typically have three years of optional years per MLB definition, but players with a full season of less than five are eligible for fourth.
Southpaw Justin Willobluski, one of the pitchers in this category, hasn’t had the easiest experience (and then) with MLB, but it’s not an excuse for performance on the mound.
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“Obviously, it’s a challenge,” he said. “But at the end of the day, I know how this works, so I know that there’s no guarantee that the next start is always in one place. I don’t say that’s an excuse.
“It’s definitely difficult, but at the end of the day you need to be ready to pitch wherever you are, whenever you are called. That’s my way of thinking, and wherever you are, I’ll continue to try and improve.”
So far, in his 15 MLB innings this season, Wrobleski has an ERA of 7.20. In Triple-A, things are slightly better with a 5.09 ERA with 40.2 innings of work, but there’s far more to do.
Manager Dave Roberts knows this better than anyone else and knows that his 24-year-old pitcher has to take the next step with plans to pitch that week.
“As long as it’s part of the culture in the major leagues these days, it’s like having optional players and having people coming and going in and out of the clubhouse,” he said. “For our particular club, the core is still the core. But certainly when the periphery and supplemental players go up and down, they’re not easy for them.”
Wrobleski is scheduled to face the San Diego Padres on Wednesday in a three-game series rubber match at Petco Park.
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Photo credit: Ron Chenoy-Immagn Image
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