The forthcoming 2022 Los Angeles Dodgers Opening Day roster is largely in place, with only a few final decisions remaining for the front office and manager Dave Roberts.
Chief among them is how many pitchers the team will carry to begin the season. Roberts said that number is either going to be 14 or 15. L.A. is placing an emphasis on pitching come Opening Day due to not all starters being fully stretched out because of the shortened Spring Training.
Other conversations pertain to the bench, and in particular if Jake Lamb will break camp with the Dodgers and make the team as a non-roster invitee. Lamb has hit well in Spring Training but the Dodgers would need a 40-man roster move as well.
As Caleb Ferguson and Tommy Kahnle continue to work their way back from respective Tommy John surgeries, neither is expected to begin the season on the active roster.
2022 Dodgers Opening Day roster predictions
Matthew Moreno (@MMoreno1015):
Starting pitchers (5): Walker Buehler, Tony Gonsolin, Andrew Heaney, Clayton Kershaw, Julio Urias
Relief pitchers (10): Tyler Anderson, Justin Bruihl, Victor Gonzalez, Brusdar Graterol, Daniel Hudson, Evan Phillips, David Price, Blake Treinen, Alex Vesia, Mitch White
Catchers (2): Austin Barnes, Will Smith
Infielders (6): Hanser Alberto, Freddie Freeman, Jake Lamb, Max Muncy, Justin Turner, Trea Turner
Outfielders (3): Mookie Betts, Cody Bellinger, AJ Pollock
Infielders/Outfielders (2): Gavin Lux, Chris Taylor
I primarily debated between Justin Bruihl and Garrett Cleavinger in the bullpen, and Jake Lamb and Edwin Rios for the bench. Bruihl earned the nod over Cleavinger because of his showing in Spring Training thus far and slightly better results from 2021.
And although Rios has hit well during Cactus League play, I see him as someone who the Dodgers want to log regular at-bats for the time being. That’s much easier to come with Triple-A Oklahoma City, and Lamb has hit well enough to be a threat off the bench as a left-handed bat.
Given recent comments by Roberts about the Dodgers wanting to reduce Caleb Ferguson’s workload to start the season, I suspect he will be placed on the 60-day injured list in order to add Lamb to the Dodgers’ 40-man roster.
I went with Mitch White as the final relief pitcher because of the flexibility he offers and being able to take on innings if necessary.
Even though I do have Gavin Lux on the Opening Day roster, it wouldn’t be a complete surprise if he’s replaced by Kevin Pillar. However, that would require yet another 40-man roster move.
Matt Borelli (@mcborelli):
Starting pitchers (5): Walker Buehler, Tony Gonsolin, Andrew Heaney, Clayton Kershaw, Julio Urias
Relief pitchers (10): Tyler Anderson, Justin Bruihl, Garrett Cleavinger, Victor Gonzalez, Brusdar Graterol, Shane Greene, Daniel Hudson, Evan Phillips, David Price, Blake Treinen
Catchers (2): Austin Barnes, Will Smith
Infielders (6): Hanser Alberto, Freddie Freeman, Max Muncy, Edwin Rios, Justin Turner, Trea Turner
Outfielders (3): Cody Bellinger, Mookie Betts, AJ Pollock
Infielders/Outfielders (2): Gavin Lux, Chris Taylor
No surprises in the starting rotation. Walker Buehler will take the mound on Opening Day and then be followed by Clayton Kershaw and Julio Urias in some order. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts also indicated Tony Gonsolin and Andrew Heaney have earned the final two spots, so that’s how the initial group will look.
Assuming the Dodgers begin the season with 15 pitchers, that leaves 10 spots for the bullpen. With Phil Bickford, Caleb Ferguson and Tommy Kahnle unlikely to be ready for Opening Day, I have non-roster invitee Shane Greene breaking camp with the team.
I picked him over Alex Vesia for the final spot to avoid having a too left-handed heavy bullpen. To clear a spot for Greene on the 40-man roster, the Dodgers can simply place one of Bickford, Ferguson or Kahnle to the 60-day injured list.
As for the position player group, there are no surprises either. The one decision I wrestled with was picking Edwin Rios over Jake Lamb for the final spot on the bench. They both bat left-handed and play the same positions, so I figured it would make more sense to carry Rios instead of having to clear another spot on the 40-man roster for Lamb.
Blake Williams (@ByBlakeWilliams):
Starting pitchers (5): Walker Buehler, Tony Gonsolin, Andrew Heaney, Clayton Kershaw, Julio Urias
Relief pitchers (10): Tyler Anderson, Justin Bruihl, Victor Gonzalez, Brusdar Graterol, Daniel Hudson, Evan Phillips, David Price, Blake Treinen, Alex Vesia, Mitch White
Catchers (2): Austin Barnes, Will Smith
Infielders (6): Hanser Alberto, Freddie Freeman, Jake Lamb, Max Muncy, Justin Turner, Trea Turner
Outfielders (3): Cody Bellinger, Mookie Betts, AJ Pollock
Infielders/Outfielders (2): Gavin Lux, Chris Taylor
The Dodgers have more than 30 players worthy of making their Opening Day roster, and luckily for them, they’ll have an extra two spots in the first month of the season to make the cut down slightly easier.
In general, carrying 16 pitchers would make more sense than 15 due to the universal designated hitter. But I don’t think any of their available pitchers would provide much more value than an extra bench bat and they already have to cut at least two quality hitters, so making it three would have been even tougher.
If I went with another pitcher, Garrett Cleavinger would’ve made it, but my Dodgers bullpen already has five southpaws in it, which is more than enough. I also just couldn’t justify leaving all of Edwin Rios, Jake Lamb and Kevin Pillar off the roster with their talent.
I ultimately decided for Lamb over Rios, because the latter should get everyday at-bats and he won’t be able to get those at the Major League level. Lamb has also done nothing but rake during Spring Training while also showing some versatility to play all the corner spots on the field.
To add Lamb to the 40-man roster, the Dodgers will need to transfer Tommy Kahnle or Caleb Ferguson to the 60-day injured list.
The Dodgers have a lot of tough decisions to make in the coming days, but in the end, all of the players should contribute at some point in the season anyways.
Scott Geirman (@Scotty_Gee):
Starting pitchers (5): Walker Buehler, Tony Gonsolin, Andrew Heaney, Clayton Kershaw, Julio Urias
Relief Pitchers (10): Tyler Anderson, Justin Bruihl, Victor Gonzalez, Brusdar Graterol, Daniel Hudson, Evan Phillips, David Price, Blake Treinen, Alex Vesia, Mitch White
Catchers (2): Austin Barnes, Will Smith
Infielders (6): Hanser Alberto, Freddie Freeman, Jake Lamb, Max Muncy, Justin Turner, Trea Turner
Outfielders (3): Cody Bellinger, Mookie Betts, AJ Pollock
Infielders/Outfielders (2): Gavin Lux, Chris Taylor
There aren’t many question marks at this point for the Dodgers. Though, with the bonus of having a 28-man roster for the first month of the season that opens up more of a debate for the final few spots.
Roberts already said the team would carry “north of 14” pitchers on their Opening Day roster, so let’s assume they decide on 15. That extra arm will be in the bullpen and with the addition of Tyler Anderson and David Price, also without a defined role, will need more than just Victor Gonzalez in the bullpen.
Both Garrett Cleavinger and Justin Bruihl have a case to be on the roster, but I went with Bruihl given his spring success in what was a toss up.
Jake Lamb has a real shot to make the team as a non-roster invitee, and he leads the club in hits (nine) and extra-base hits (five) so far in Spring Training. Lamb gets the nod over Edwin Rios for me because of his usage thus far and because Rios is coming off shoulder surgery in 2021 and would be better served playing on a regular basis with Triple-A Oklahoma City.
I’m leaning towards adding Caleb Ferguson to the 60-day injured list as the corresponding move to open up a spot on the 40-man roster for Lamb.
I wish there was more to mull over in terms of bench slots, but as a pure numbers game, and the short Spring Training, arms will need to be at the ready.
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