Dave Roberts said on August 3, 2026 that the Chicago Cubs hit home runs off Justin Wrobleski because they were on time for nearly everything he threw. Roberts said of the outing, "they were on virtually everything he threw up there."
Roberts added that Wrobleski's stuff remains strong despite the results, noting "the stuff is really good, as good as it's been all year." He explained that the Cubs took good swings and punished mistakes, stating "when he did make mistakes, it just seemed like they went out of the ballpark." Roberts said the pitching staff has given up the second-most home runs since the break, according to his own account, and said the team plans to examine why opposing hitters are timing Wrobleski so well, mentioning it could reflect a league-wide adjustment: "we're going to dig into it."
On the bullpen, Roberts acknowledged struggles with walks and limiting damage, calling the relievers collectively responsible for recent issues. "They're all culprits and, you know, we got to find a way to, you know, prevent runs," he said. He also noted the team has not been forcing opponents to record all 27 outs recently, which he said has made things easier for opposing lineups. Regarding Wrobleski's workload, Roberts said he does not believe fatigue is a factor and expects him to pitch deeper into games than he did the previous year, adding that major league innings carry more stress than time on backfields or in the minor leagues.
Roberts also addressed Mookie Betts, saying he feels good about where Betts is mentally and physically despite inconsistent results at the plate, noting he had spoken with Betts directly. Kyle Tucker's involvement in a defensive play was also part of Roberts' remarks. Elsewhere in the game discussed, Tanner struck out Alex Bregman and issued a six-pitch walk to Seiya, while Edgardo was credited with getting the team out of an inning.
Roberts also discussed Tarik Skubal, who is preparing to make his Dodgers debut. Roberts described him working with teammates and coaches, including Mark, ahead of the game, saying, "him and Mark earlier tonight were preparing for tomorrow, which was good to see." Roberts said the team is excited for the upcoming debut as preparations continue.