With Clayton Kershaw making a regular start on the final day of the regular season, it signaled he was not going to be on the Los Angeles Dodgers roster for their National League Wild Card Series matchup against the Cincinnati Reds.
It wasn’t necessarily a surprise considering the shortened nature of the round and the Dodgers having a surplus of starters that already was resulting in Tyler Glasnow and Emmet Sheehan being bumped into bullpen roles. Glasnow figures to make a start during the NLDS, but Sheehan is going to remain a reliever against the Philadelphia Phillies.
Elsewhere on the Dodgers’ postseason roster for the Wild Card Series, Michael Conforto and Anthony Banda were not included as well.
Omitting Banda was unexpected in some regard given his successful season. However, the Dodgers also had gone away from using him in leverage situations down the stretch.
Now that the Dodgers are set to begin a new playoff series, it’s an opportunity to make changes to their active roster.
Anthony Banda, Clayton Kershaw back for NLDS
Two additions to the Dodgers roster for the NLDS are expected to be both Banda and Kershaw.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said the decision to leave Banda off the roster for the Wild Card round was “very, very difficult,” and noted at the start of the Wild Card Series that the left-hander would be included if the team advanced to the NLDS.
Banda pitched in two of three games against the Phillies during the series at Dodger Stadium last month, which included making a start as an opener. He also threw a scoreless inning at Citizens Bank Park on April 5.
Banda figures to be among several left-handers the Dodgers utilize in effort to contain a potent Phillies lineup.
Meanwhile, Kershaw joining the NLDS roster possibly puts him in that same boat as well. The Dodgers theoretically could start Kershaw, but that doesn’t appear necessary given their rotation is in strong position after sweeping the Reds.
If Kershaw does appear in a game, it will be his first time pitching in the playoffs since 2023.
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