With Recreation 1 of the Fall Traditional set to start tonight at 7:08 pm CT, the Dodgers formally revealed their World Sequence roster. Whereas 23 of the 26 gamers from the NLCS roster are sticking round for the World Sequence, the group made three substitutions. Proper-handed pitcher Brusdar Graterol, left-handed pitcher Alex Vesia, and infielder Miguel Rojas have been added to the roster, whereas right-handed pitchers Evan Phillips and Edgardo Henriquez and outfielder Kevin Kiermaier have been left off.
Rojas had a superb common season for the Dodgers, however he has been nursing {a partially} torn adductor muscle since late September. He performed within the NLDS, going 2-for-8 throughout three video games, however was left off the NLCS roster after re-aggravating his harm. Supervisor Dave Roberts informed reporters yesterday that Rojas was more likely to make the World Sequence roster. With Rojas again in motion, Roberts could have extra flexibility to make use of Tommy Edman, Chris Taylor, and Enrique Hernández within the outfield, subsequently leaving Kiermaier because the odd man out. Kiermaier was not on the NLDS roster however joined the group within the NLCS rather than Rojas.
As for Graterol and Vesia, their inclusions on the roster come as a bit extra of a pleasing shock. Roberts was much less sure about their standing when he spoke to the media on Thursday, however clearly, the group has since determined they’re each able to return.
Graterol has handled accidents nearly all 12 months and was unable to pitch in both the NLDS or NLCS. Nonetheless, he was one among L.A.’s finest relievers from 2022-23, and he has a profession 1.64 ERA in 22 postseason video games. If he’s again at full power, he ought to symbolize an enormous improve to the Dodgers’ arm barn. The identical is true of Vesia, who has quietly been the most effective relievers in baseball since becoming a member of the Dodgers. Over 227 appearances with the membership, he has a 2.57 ERA – plus a 1.50 ERA in 15 postseason video games. Vesia pitched within the NLDS in opposition to the Padres however suffered a minor intercostal harm throughout Recreation 5. His return can be particularly essential contemplating the Dodgers had been right down to only one left-handed pitcher on their whole pitching workers in the course of the NLCS. He’s certain to play a significant position in opposition to among the harmful lefties within the Yankees’ lineup.
Subbing out for Graterol and Vesia are Phillips and Henríquez. Phillips struggled at instances within the second half, seemingly dropping his job because the Dodgers’ main nearer within the course of. Nonetheless, dropping the right-hander is an enormous blow for L.A. Even in an up-and-down season, Phillips completed with a 3.62 and three.15 SIERA over 61 video games. He additionally made 5 scoreless appearances on this 12 months’s playoffs; he has but to permit a run in 15 1/3 profession postseason innings. Sadly, it appears as if the arm fatigue he felt in Recreation 6 of the NLCS (per Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Occasions) continues to be an issue. Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic additionally notes that Phillips has been pushing via “lat, biceps and triceps tightness” for a couple of month, so it’s not exhausting to see why the Dodgers would train warning. It’s additionally value noting, as POBO Andrew Friedman informed reporters, that the Dodgers wouldn’t have been in a position to take away Phillips from the roster mid-series if his harm worsened, as a result of it was a pre-existing situation (per Harris).
As for Henriquez, the hard-throwing rookie was fortunate sufficient to make the NLDS and NLCS rosters after pitching simply 3 1/3 innings within the common season. He gave up 4 earned runs on eight hits over 5 innings of labor in his first style of October baseball. It’s hardly shocking to see him got rid of the roster now that Graterol and Vesia can be found as soon as once more.
The complete roster:
- Proper-handed pitchers: Ryan Brasier, Walker Buehler, Ben Casparius, Jack Flaherty, Brusdar Graterol, Brent Honeywell Jr., Daniel Hudson, Landon Knack, Michael Kopech, Blake Treinen, Yoshinobu Yamamoto
- Left-handed pitchers: Anthony Banda, Alex Vesia
- Catchers: Austin Barnes, Will Smith
- Infielders: Freddie Freeman, Gavin Lux, Max Muncy, Miguel Rojas
- Outfielders: Teoscar Hernández, Andy Pages
- Infielders/Outfielders: Mookie Betts, Tommy Edman, Chris Taylor, Enrique Hernández
- Designated hitter: Shohei Ohtani
