Dodgers turn to Justin Wrobleski in series finale vs. Nationals

After dealing with a number of lineup changes of late, the Los Angeles Dodgers will make an adjustment to their starting rotation in the series finale against the visiting Washington Nationals on Sunday night.

Justin Wrobleski, who was a National League All-Star this season, will make the start in his return to the rotation.

Los Angeles (85-57) has played the last three games without Shohei Ohtani, who is dealing with right biceps, neck and left knee injuries.

Dalton Rushing was expected to replace Ohtani at designated hitter on Saturday, but he was a late scratch with elbow discomfort.

Veteran Freddie Freeman received a day of rest Friday, while catcher Will Smith was used off the bench Saturday. Max Muncy was also a late scratch Saturday with an illness. Tommy Edman, Teoscar Hernandez and Mookie Betts are due for days off soon as well.

Edman proved to be the hero Saturday with a go-ahead three-run home run in the seventh inning of a 6-5 victory over the Nationals. Hernandez had an RBI single from the DH spot.

Ohtani took swings in an indoor batting cage Saturday for the first time in three days. If he goes on the IL on Sunday it will be for a minimum of 15 days, which is required of pitchers and designated two-way players.

"I think the main thing with (keeping Ohtani on the active roster) is his health," Roberts said. "That's the most important thing. And then we can find ways to log at-bats to get him up to speed. So I think that's kind of where all of our heads are at."

Wrobleski (11-5, 3.65 ERA) was bumped from the rotation last month when Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow returned from the injured list. He went on the injured list on August 16 with forearm discomfort.

He entered Tuesday's game in the seventh inning vs. St. Louis and allowed three runs (two earned) in two innings of a 13-8 loss.

Wrobleski was blitzed for eight runs on eight hits in five innings of his lone start last season against the Nationals.

James Wood had a single and a run scored for the Nationals in Saturday's defeat, the third consecutive for the club. Wood has a hit in all three games since his return from a month away because of a left oblique strain.

"When you have an extended period of time like he had injured, you worry about the timing," Nationals manager Blake Butera said, according to MLB.com. "But he's done a nice job, especially as he's gotten more at-bats since he's been back, looking comfortable all the time."

Wood has five home runs, with 12 RBIs and 10 runs scored in 11 career games against the Dodgers.

Keibert Ruiz returned for Washington on Saturday and had two hits with an RBI after last playing Wednesday when he was hit by a foul ball in his catcher's mask. Ruiz is a former Dodgers' prospect who was traded to the Nationals in 2021.

Washington (67-77) is set to send left-hander Andrew Alvarez (2-6, 3.47) to the mound. Alvarez, a native of nearby Los Alamitos, is coming off his best start of the season when he went six scoreless innings last Sunday against the Miami Marlins.

It will be Alvarez's first career start at Dodger Stadium, which is less than 30 miles north of his hometown.

-Field Level Media