The Los Angeles Dodgers concluded the regular season on Sunday with a meaningless game against the Colorado Rockies, as home-field advantage through the World Series was clinched in the penultimate game.
Even prior to wrapping that up, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts committed to a bullpen game in the season finale at Coors Field. It would afford him a final look at relievers who may be vying for a spot on the Dodgers playoff roster.
Beyond Kenley Jansen and Brandon Morrow, the bullpen picture for the National League Division Series hardly has any locks. While there are multiple right- and left-handed relievers competing to make the 25-man roster, Luis Avilan is not among them.
According to Ken Gurnick of MLB.com, Avilan is dealing with a sore shoulder that’s rendered him unavailable for the NLDS:
LHP Luis Avilan is unavailable for the NLDS with a sore shoulder. He last pitched Sept. 21 and might be a second-round roster option.
— Ken Gurnick (@kengurnick) October 1, 2017
Avilan went 2-3 with a 2.93 ERA, 2.96 FIP and 1.39 WHIP in 61 games this season. He was placed on the 10-day disabled list and two weeks during May and into June due to left triceps soreness.
Even if healthy, it’s plausible Avilan would not have been taken ahead of Tony Cingrani or Tony Watson. Though, Avilan did hold Rockies batters to a feeble .125/.176/.125 batting line in 17 plate appearances this season. Conversely, the Arizona Diamondbacks hit .400/.538/.850 with one double, one triple and two home runs.
Avilan was with the Dodgers for last year’s NLDS and NL Championship Series. He pitched a combined 3.2 innings, allowed four hits, walked one and struck out three in five playoff games.
