The Los Angeles Dodgers are no longer sitting pretty and comfortable atop the NL West. Friday night’s 6-2 loss to the Giants made it clear. The defeat not only handed San Francisco its share of the division but also exposed the cracks in LA’s injury-hit pitching staff. Now, with several pitchers sidelined, the Dodgers have been forced to lean on the youth for some relief. This includes the 24-year-old lefty Justin Wrobleski. After Landon Knack’s recent struggles, the Dodgers gave Wrobleski another shot on the mound. While his MLB numbers don’t jump off the page, he offered much-needed relief against the Giants. Just recently, he delivered 4.1 solid innings, allowing just one run while striking out five.

And right now, Wrobleski has his eyes on the game. And also has some support and advice from veterans!

During a recent interview, Wrobleski highlighted that being aggressive is key: “Let’s get ahead, let’s attack, and see where we’re at.” And when asked if he is comfortable shifting between the bullpen and starting roles, he didn’t hesitate.

“Yeah, I’m comfortable. I think, again, my job is to continue to get better, continue to work on stuff. And I’ve made a couple, you know, mechanical adjustments and a couple things that I’ve been working on as far as pitch mix-wise to kind of get myself in a spot where, wherever I’m at, I can, you know, continue to help the team,” said Wrobleski. That poise and stance are critical, especially for a young pitcher trying to secure his spot in a rotation that’s in flux right now.

This newfound confidence is refreshing, given that he had acknowledged how tough the major league grind can be. Talking about bouncing between the majors and minors, he had said, “Obviously, it’s a challenge… My next start is not guaranteed to always be in one place or another… But at the end of the day, you have to be ready to pitch whenever you’re called upon.” But for now, Wrobleski is staying ready and sharp.

Plus, helping him transition easily is also advice from the game’s best. It turns out that Dodgers legend arm Clayton Kershaw, was the voice helping him move easily. For now, though, the Los Angeles Dodgers need more than comfort from Wrobleski—they need him to be a key contributor. But he isn’t the only name making rounds in LA!

Los Angeles Dodgers’ unsung prospect could be the bullpen answer

While Justin Wrobleski is trying to adapt, the Los Angeles Dodgers are trying to piece together a stable rotation. And it’s clear they need more than just short fixes. And this is where one name quietly shines—Patrick Copen. Given that the pitching front is shaky and arms have dropped down like flies, his name has come out. Now it is true that Patrick Copen is not exactly a household name. At least not yet! He is ranked No. 29 on the Dodgers prospect list, and MLB Pipeline analyst Jim Callis thinks that the right-hander could come into the big league party by the end of the season itself. Now that timeline could be generous if Copen keeps doing what he has been doing.

But before that, it’s crucial to understand what he has overcome. Well, during his first pro season, he was hit in the face by a line drive and lost vision in his right eye. Most pitchers would have stopped it down, but Copen pushed through. Currently with Double-A Tulsa, the 23-year-old has a 2.61 ERA in his first two starts there. Before that, he absolutely owned the High A with a 2.25 ERA over 10 starts and a jaw-dropping 14.44 strikeouts per nine innings.

He still leads the team in strikeouts by 23! Plus, he has got some serious gas, and his fastball hovers around 95-97 mph and can even touch more. Hence, it is no wonder that insiders like Callis see him as a weapon for the bullpen. Sure, control needs work, but he is electric.  Do you think with the Los Angeles Dodgers’ arms running on fumes, Copen’s name will be fast-tracked to the big league? Let us know.