After manager Dave Roberts revealed bits of information over the past week and filled in the holes on Tuesday, the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday morning formally set their 25-man active roster for the matchup with the Washington Nationals in the National League Division Series.
Just as they did for the 2013 and 2015 NLDS, Los Angeles will carry 14 position players and 11 pitchers. Considering the club’s depth that proved instrumental throughout the year, Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman called this his most difficult postseason roster to assemble.
The biggest surprise this year came with Austin Barnes being included as a third catcher. Though, Barnes’ speed and ability to play second and third base gives the Dodgers some flexibility.
He’s one of seven rookies on the Dodgers’ NLDS roster; five of which made their Major League debut this season. One being Andrew Toles, who is starting in left field in Game 1.
Of the 25 players the Dodgers head into the postseason with, 14 were on their 2016 Opening Day roster. Meanwhile, the likes of Brett Anderson, Kiké Hernandez and Brandon McCarthy are among the group sent to Camelback Ranch to keep sharp in the event they are needed.
J.P. Howell, Rob Segedin, Brock Stewart and Alex Wood are not active but traveled with the club to Washington D.C. Dodgers’ complete NLDS roster breakdown (listed alphabetically by position group):
Starting pitchers (4): Rich Hill, Clayton Kershaw, Kenta Maeda, Julio Urias
Relief pitchers (7): Luis Avilan, Pedro Baez, Joe Blanton, Grant Dayton, Josh Fields, Kenley Jansen, Ross Stripling
Catchers (3): Austin Barnes, Yasmani Grandal, Carlos Ruiz
Infielders (5): Charlie Culberson, Adrian Gonzalez, Corey Seager, Justin Turner, Chase Utley
Outfielders (6): Andre Ethier, Howie Kendrick, Joc Pederson, Yasiel Puig, Josh Reddick, Andrew Toles
“There was a lot to playoff experience,” Roberts said this week after unofficially setting the Dodgers’ NLDS roster.
“But having discussions with the coaches and front office, I feel the decisions we made on the 25 players gives us the best chance to beat the Nationals in a short series. With the young guys that have come up and impacted us, probably helped in appeasing us a little more with youth and inexperience.”
