Last September the Los Angeles Dodgers had built up such a comfortable lead in the National League West that a 1-16 slide did little, if nothing, to change the probability they’d win the division for a fifth straight year.
So when active rosters expanded, it afforded manager Dave Roberts the opportunity to cycle players in and out of the lineup, all the while remaining mindful keeping players healthy and sharp for the postseason.
The Dodgers don’t have that same luxury this season, as they’re locked with the Arizona Diamondbacks and Colorado Rockies in an NL West race. Los Angeles nonetheless added eight players to their active roster on Saturday.
However, Roberts explained the group that arrived from Triple-A Oklahoma City don’t figure to receive much playing time, via SportsNet LA:
“The guys that we called up are essentially going to help support the guys that are already here. Playing time has been hard to come by for a lot of these guys that have already been here for most of the year. So for these guys to be unselfish and buy into what we’re doing, is a huge coup. The guys coming, it’s sporadic playing time but to help in certain spots.”
The Dodgers’ first wave of callups consisted of Kyle Farmer, Tim Locastro Andrew Toles and Alex Verdugo. All previously spent time up with the club at various points this season.
As the date to expand rosters approached, general manager Farhan Zaidi suggested the Dodgers would not add to their roster as aggressively as they did last September. He said the focus was to provide Roberts with a group that remained “functional.”