'More reason to try and keep getting better': Wrobleski motivated by ASG snub

LOS ANGELES -- He goes by Wrobo, and a Hall of Famer has christened him "The Shark."

But the Dodgers want to call Justin Wrobleski something else: an All-Star.

Wrobleski put a bow on a stellar first half by striking out nine across seven innings of one-run ball in Tuesday night's eventual 4-3 loss to the Rockies. Every big pitch that sent a batter down swinging or got the Dodgers out of a jam was accented by the "Jaws" theme, Dodger Stadium organist Dieter Ruehle's nod to Pedro Martinez's nickname for the southpaw.

Martinez, who won three Cy Young Awards in a career that saw him enshrined in Cooperstown, watched Wrobleski toss seven innings of two-run ball against the Twins on June 23 and was so impressed that he took to social media to share his thoughts: "He was like a shark out there," he wrote in one post.

"Once he got the lead he was able to understand what he needed to do and put up quick innings," Martinez continued in another post. "That’s a sign of maturity and confidence."

That is how the Dodgers have seen Wrobleski grow over the past year. In 2025, a midseason shift to the bullpen allowed him to find his footing with the big league club. He has carried that momentum into '26, when he began the season as L.A.'s sixth starter but has established himself as one of the team's most trustworthy arms by the halfway point.

The Dodgers saw five of their players named All-Stars when initial rosters were announced on Saturday, and Wrobleski was not one of them. Before he took the mound on Tuesday, three pitchers were replaced on the NL All-Star roster, and Wrobleski again was not one of them.

"Obviously it's disappointing," Wrobleski said. "You want to be an All-Star. It's something that, regardless of the year, whenever, it's always a big deal. It's something I wanted to do. It's frustrating to not get that nod. But like I said before, it's just more reason to try and keep getting better. Hopefully I can gain the respect of players and everybody else and maybe be in there next year."

Wrobleski is 10-2, one of eight MLB pitchers who has reached double-digit wins this season. His 2.69 ERA ranks eighth in the NL, and the seven pitchers in front of him are all All-Stars. His 1.02 WHIP is third in the NL, and he's one of 18 NL pitchers who have thrown at least 100 innings, even while being part of a six-man rotation.

For the Dodgers, everything he's given them has been worthy of an All-Star nod.

"We run a six-man rotation, and I just don't want him to get dinged for not making a couple more starts that he potentially could have had," manager Dave Roberts said. "He's won 10 games for us. To be able to get pitching decisions, you've got to go deeper in games. … It's about winning, the ERA is stellar, innings per outing and so I just think that he's performed enough to earn that opportunity."

By the end of this week, Wrobleski still has a chance to have his name called, as there could be more replacements for NL All-Star pitchers who are unavailable to pitch in next Tuesday's Midsummer Classic due to scheduling. While he would like to know whether he'll be spending his All-Star break in Philadelphia or elsewhere, Wrobleski won't focus too much on that, as it is out of his hands.

Roberts, on the other hand, has taken it upon himself to lobby for his young starter, and being All-Star-worthy in his eyes means a good deal to Wrobleski.

"He's given me this opportunity to kind of be a starter in the Major Leagues when maybe some other teams would've given up on me," Wrobleski said. "It means a lot to hear from him. Hopefully, I can keep eating innings for him and going deep into games and doing my best."