Alex Vesia played a key role out of the Los Angeles Dodgers bullpen in Game 4 of the National League Division Series, but he faced just one batter in the winner-take-all matchup against the San Diego Padres.
Vesia entered with two outs in the seventh inning and struck out Jackson Merrill to preserve what was a 1-0 lead for the Dodgers. He went back out to warm up for the eighth but signaled to the Dodgers’ dugout after delivering a pitch.
Vesia had a quick conversation with Dodgers trainer Dodgers trainer Yosuke “Possum” Nakajima before coming out of the game with an injury manager Dave Roberts initially deemed a cramp following their Game 5 win.
Roberts did add there was some concern and the team wouldn’t know the full extent of Vesia’s injury until he underwent an MRI.
More clarity arrived on the eve of the NL Championship Series, which Vesia is unlikely to be part of.
“It’s a side, intercostal situation. He feels good. I don’t know what he’s going to do today. So I would say that it’s highly unlikely that he’s active for this next series, but we’ll see,” Roberts said on Saturday.
Vesia allowed just one hit and issued one walk in 3.2 innings pitched across three games during the NLDS.
Who can replace Alex Vesia for NLCS?
If Vesia is not on the Dodgers playoff roster for the NLCS, it would potentially leave the team with just one left-handed relief pitcher. Though, that may not be too much of a factor considering the New York Mets’ lineup primarily consists of right-handed hitters.
The bigger impact is not having a high-leverage option such as Vesia, who has been entrusted with a variety of roles and situations.
“We have a couple of options that we’ve had, that are on the roster, that are viable,” Roberts said.
“It’s really not a left-handed kind of heavy hitting team. But still we’ve got to talk through it. And obviously losing Alex potentially is brutal. It sucks. He’s a big part of what we do. But we’re just going to have to find somebody else to step up.”
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