Dodgers’ projected postseason roster has already taken shape

3 years ago 299

LOS ANGELES ― Now that the Dodgers person clinched a postseason berth, it’s customary to presumption their remaining regular-season games arsenic an accidental to refine roster roles with an oculus toward October.

Toss that customized retired the window.

The Dodgers’ starting lineup, rotation, person and set-up roles are each but cinched. Their injured database has been whittled to 1 subordinate projected to instrumentality betwixt present and the extremity of the season, outfielder AJ Pollock. The question of who volition marque the Dodgers’ 26-man postseason roster offers little suspense than their pursuit of the San Francisco Giants.

“I deliberation we person a batch of bully options,” Manager Dave Roberts said. “It’s amusive to speech about, I guess. It ever comes down to the other seat player, the alleviation (pitchers), however you’re going to bash that.”

If Pollock returns precocious adjacent week arsenic expected, the Dodgers person 5 wide candidates to capable retired their bench.

Catcher Austin Barnes and archetypal baseman Albert Pujols are shoo-ins arsenic right-handed bats. Cody Bellinger and Gavin Lux person filled successful capably successful the outfield connected this homestand, perchance doing capable offensively to commencement against right-handed pitchers erstwhile Pollock and Chris Taylor instrumentality from their respective injuries. If the Dodgers opt to support a 5th subordinate connected their bench, Matt Beaty figures to beryllium that player.

Either Walker Buehler oregon Max Scherzer volition commencement Game 1 of the postseason. Clayton Kershaw – if helium continues his advancement backmost from an elbow wounded – and Julio Urías would travel successful a seven-game series.

Blake Treinen has been the champion set-up antheral to Kenley Jansen since Brandon Morrow successful 2017. Joe Kelly isn’t acold down connected the bullpen extent chart. Alex Vesia has go Roberts’ apical prime against left-handed hitters successful late-game, high-leverage situations. Phil Bickford is the champion of Andrew Friedman’s galore midseason bullpen acquisitions.

Corey Knebel, David Price, Brusdar Graterol and Tony Gonsolin each person acquisition pitching retired of the bullpen successful the postseason. All 4 tin marque it if the Dodgers opt to support 13 pitchers connected the staff.

INJURY UPDATES

Taylor was disposable disconnected the seat for the archetypal clip since helium injured his cervix successful past Friday’s triumph implicit the San Diego Padres. Taylor was apt to spell connected the 10-day injured database Wednesday if his cervix had not improved.

Taylor and Pollock some took portion successful pregame batting signifier connected the field. Pollock, who’s expected to play insignificant league rehabilitation games successful Arizona opening adjacent Monday, is simply a week to 10 days distant from rejoining the large league team, Roberts said.

LINE ’EM UP

The Cincinnati Reds are among a fistful of teams the Dodgers mightiness conscionable successful a imaginable National League chaotic paper crippled if they neglect to triumph the division. Roberts chose not to shuffle his rotation to fell Buehler oregon Scherzer, 1 of whom would commencement the one-game playoff.

Buehler volition commencement Friday against the Reds’ Luis Castillo. Scherzer volition commencement Saturday other the Reds’ Sonny Gray. Kershaw volition commencement Sunday against different left-hander, Wade Miley.

ALSO

Actor Edward James Olmos narrated a stirring pregame tribute to Fernando Valenzuela, who was feted connected the tract on with his household connected the juncture of his bobblehead night. The retired pitcher-turned-broadcaster received a ceremonial archetypal transportation from his granddaughter. … Scherzer, Pujols, Justin Turner, Kershaw and Buehler opted to deterioration No. 21 jerseys connected Roberto Clemente Day crossed Major League Baseball. … Clemente, whom the Dodgers mislaid to the Pirates successful the 1954 Rule 5 draft, wore No. 21 for astir of his vocation successful Pittsburgh.