The Los Angeles Dodgers roster for the 2025 National League Wild Card consists of 15 hitters, 11 pitchers and one Shohei Ohtani as a two-way player.
The Dodgers opted to go with fewer pitchers for the short three-game series against the Cincinnati Reds, carrying two fewer than the maximum number permitted. That allows them to utilize their bench with more aggressive pinch-hitting decisions and pinch-running.
It’s a benefit of having Ohtani, as the Dodgers have essentially rostered 12 pitchers while technically only taking up 11 such spots.
The most notable addition to the Dodgers roster for the Wild Card round is Will Smith, who missed most of the final month of the regular season due to a hairline fracture in his right hand. Smith participated in the Dodgers’ workout on Monday, and manager Dave Roberts said he was “encouraged” by the backstop’s progress.
Will Smith’s at-bat against Bobby Miller pic.twitter.com/yNlD7nqaQz
— Dodger Blue (@DodgerBlue1958) September 30, 2025
Smith took two at-bats, one against Bobby Miller and one against Kyle Hurt, before doing some baserunning work. He then held a lengthy discussion on the field with Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman, general manager Brandon Gomes and Roberts.
Even with the addition of Smith, the Dodgers are still carrying three catchers, with Dalton Rushing and Ben Rortvedt making the team as well. Although Smith made the roster, it’s unlikely he will get time behind the plate and should be limited to pinch-hitting duties.
A notable subtraction from the roster is Michael Conforto, who had been starting the majority of games in left field for the Dodgers, but struggled throughout the year and lost playing time down the stretch.
Conforto finished the year hitting .199/.305/.333 with 12 home runs, 36 RBI and 54 runs scored, and despite some solid stretches of production, he was never able to maintain that over an extended period of time.
Without Conforto on the roster, Kiké Hernández and Miguel Rojas should see the majority of the time filling in for him. Justin Dean makes the team as a pinch-runner and defensive replacement.
Anthony Banda was also left off the roster for the Wild Card round. Banda played a key role in the 2024 World Series run, and he’s been stellar in the second half, with a 1.52 ERA in his last 23.2 innings.
— Dodger Blue (@DodgerBlue1958) September 30, 2025
However, the Dodgers have four left-handed relievers on the team in Tanner Scott, Alex Vesia, Jack Dreyer and Justin Wrobleski, so they seemingly have Banda as the lowest on their trust list and felt the value of an extra position player would be more beneficial than another lefty.
The subtraction of Banda also comes as Tyler Glasnow will be available out of the bullpen for the Wild Card Series. Glasnow will not start against the Reds, so the Dodgers decided to add him as an extra right-handed option, along with Emmet Sheehan.
Clayton Kershaw was left off the roster, as expected, after he started the final regular season game of the year. Roberts said Kershaw will be added back to the roster if the Dodgers advance to the NL Division Series.
Will Klein, who made a late push for the roster near the end of the season, was not eligible to be on. The Dodgers optioned Klein on Sept. 27, which makes Oct. 12 — or just before the NL Championship Series — the earliest day he could return
The Dodgers’ taxi squad for the Wild Card Series consists of Kershaw, Banda, Conforto, Miller, Hurt, Ben Casparius and Esteury Ruiz.
Dodgers 2025 Wild Card Roster
Two-way players (1):
Shohei Ohtani
Catchers (3):
Ben Rortvedt
Dalton Rushing
Will Smith
Infielders (5):
Mookie Betts
Freddie Freeman
Hyeseong Kim
Max Muncy
Miguel Rojas
Outfielders (4)
Alex Call
Teoscar Hernández
Andy Pages
Justin Dean
Infielders/outfielders (2):
Tommy Edman
Kiké Hernández
Starting pitchers (2):
Blake Snell
Yoshinobu Yamamoto
Relief pitchers (9):
Jack Dreyer
Tyler Glasnow
Edgardo Henriquez
Roki Sasaki
Tanner Scott
Emmet Sheehan
Blake Treinen
Alex Vesia
Justin Wrobleski
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