The Los Angeles Dodgers made a swap on their NLCS roster against the Milwaukee Brewers, adding left-handed pitcher Justin Wrobleski as a 13th pitcher and leaving off infielder Hyeseong Kim, according to MLB.com. The move is official and takes effect for Game 1 of the best-of-seven series, set for tonight at 8 p.m. ET at American Family Field in Milwaukee on FOX.
Manager Dave Roberts said the club wanted more pitching coverage heading into the series, according to MLB.com. The Dodgers carried 12 pitchers for their NLDS matchup with the Atlanta Braves and will go with 13 against the Brewers, per MLB Trade Rumors.
The Terms Of The Roster Swap
Wrobleski joins the bullpen as a 13th pitcher. Kim, who appeared once in the NLDS as a defensive replacement in Game 4, does not make the NLCS roster.
Kim had been included on the NLDS roster against Atlanta specifically for his speed, but he never appeared as a pinch-runner in that series. His only action came as a defensive replacement in Game 4, according to MLB.com. Josue De Paula, the organization’s top prospect, kept his own roster spot over Kim because he serves as the Dodgers’ primary left-handed bat off the bench and performed well during the NLDS.
What It Means For The Dodgers’ Pitching Depth
Adding a 13th pitcher gives Los Angeles more bullpen flexibility behind a rotation of Tarik Skubal, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow, a group that MLB Trade Rumors noted already has starting pitching covered. Wrobleski slots in as relief depth rather than a rotation option, with experience in short-burst relief work from last season that allows him to cover multiple innings if needed, per MLB.com.
That depth comes with some recent volatility attached. Wrobleski posted a career-best 140 innings with a 3.66 ERA, a 41.5% ground ball rate and a 5.4% walk rate during the regular season, numbers that helped him earn his first NL All-Star selection while going 12-5 in 22 starts and six relief appearances, according to Houston Chronicle. He spent two weeks on the injured list with left forearm inflammation and had a 6.13 ERA from July 21 onward, surrendering 11 home runs across four starts from July 28 through Aug. 15. He settled in after being used out of the bullpen late in the season.
Defensive And Bench Impact Of Leaving Off Kim
Trading a 13th pitcher for Kim’s roster spot trims the Dodgers’ bench speed and defensive versatility in exchange for bullpen length. With Kim off the roster, the bench now leans more heavily on De Paula’s left-handed bat and on infielder Miguel Rojas, who was included on the NLCS roster after receiving a cortisone injection for a back injury, according to CBS Sports. Rojas is expected to be used primarily off the bench against left-handed pitching. He hit a tying home run in the ninth inning of Game 7 of the 2025 World Series in Toronto, helping the Dodgers win their second straight championship.
What’s Next
Game 1 is tonight at 8 p.m. ET (7 p.m. CT, 5 p.m. PT) on FOX, FOX Deportes and FOX One. coverage of division series rosters and pitching depth.
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