Full Breakdown
Justin Wrobleski and Tristan Peters Added as All-Star Replacements
7/12/2026, 7:00:20 AM
Core Event: Roster Changes for the 2026 All-Star Game
On Saturday, July 11, 2026, Major League Baseball announced two late-season roster adjustments for the midsummer classic in Philadelphia. Left-hander Justin Wrobleski of the Los Angeles Dodgers was named to the National League squad, replacing Chase Burns of the Cincinnati Reds, who withdrew because of a groin-muscle issue. Outfielder Tristan Peters of the Chicago White Sox joined the American League roster, taking the spot of first baseman Nick Kurtz (Oakland Athletics) after Kurtz was placed on the injured list with a sprained right thumb. Both players will travel to Citizens Bank Park for the All-Star Game on Tuesday, July 14, 2026.
Background & Context
The All-Star selections released a week earlier left the Dodgers with six representatives but omitted Wrobleski, prompting manager Dave Roberts to lobby for his inclusion. After Burns’ withdrawal, the league first offered the vacancy to Zach Wheeler (Philadelphia Phillies), who declined, stating he would not be the “fifth option.” The league then turned to Wrobleski, who accepted the invitation. In the American League, Kurtz’s thumb sprain created an opening that the White Sox filled with Peters, who had just recorded a cycle—the first for Chicago since 2017.
Key Figures & Groups
- Justin Wrobleski (26, left-handed starter, Dodgers) – 10-2 record, 2.69 ERA, 73 strikeouts in 100 1/3 innings.
- Tristan Peters (26, outfielder, White Sox) – .303 batting average, 6 HR, 35 RBIs, 20 doubles, 3 triples; second Canadian ever to hit a cycle.
- Chase Burns (Reds) – right-hander who withdrew due to groin discomfort.
- Nick Kurtz (Athletics) – first baseman sidelined by a sprained thumb.
- Zach Wheeler (Phillies) – right-hander who declined the replacement slot.
- Dave Roberts (Dodgers manager, NL All-Star manager) – advocated for Wrobleski’s selection.
Data & Statistics
- Wrobleski ranks eighth in NL ERA and is tied for second in wins (10) as of July 11.
- Peters is batting .303 with six home runs and 35 RBIs in his first full major-league season.
- The Dodgers lead the National League West at 61-34, the best record in MLB.
- The White Sox have three All-Stars this season (Peters, Miguel Vargas, Munetaka Murakami).
Official Statements & Responses
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said, “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.” Peters reflected on his opportunity, noting, “The White Sox gave me this opportunity and I went into it just trying to make the most out of it and just be who I am as a player, too.” MLB’s official release confirmed the roster changes and the All-Star Game schedule.
Criticism & Opposition
Phillies right-hander Zach Wheeler publicly rejected the replacement offer, saying, “I’m not going to be the fifth option.” Burns’ withdrawal was described in one report as “groin discomfort” and in another as a “groin muscle issue,” indicating slight variation in the injury description.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Obviously, I was upset. I was not happy that I wasn’t going to be a part of it,” — Justin Wrobleski
- “I mean, you want to be an All-Star and I felt like I did enough to kind of put myself in that conversation, if not be there,” — Justin Wrobleski
- “I know there was a lot of bunting in the beginning and just trying to figure out who I am at the big league level and you know they give space for that, too.” — Tristan Peters
- “I’m not going to be the fifth option,” — Zach Wheeler
- “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,” — Dave Roberts
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the precise wording of Burns’ injury (groin discomfort vs. groin-muscle issue) and on Wheeler’s motivation for declining (feelings of disrespect versus a desire to avoid a secondary role). No official comment from the Reds or Phillies clarifies these nuances.
