The Los Angeles Dodgers postseason roster for their matchup against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the National League Division Series is comprised of 13 pitchers and 13 position players.
Of note, Kolten Wong is on the NLDS roster while Amed Rosario is not. It isn’t clear if that decision stemmed from injury or simply one based out of strategy.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts suggested that was the likely breakdown for the NLDS roster, but also left open the possibility of the team electing to carry an extra position player instead.
Ultimately, the Dodgers seemingly gave the nod to including both Michael Grove and Lance Lynn on their postseason roster. Ryan Yarbrough is not active for the NLDS, leaving the Dodgers with Caleb Ferguson and Alex Vesia as their left-handed relief pitchers.
That didn’t come as much of a surprise considering the Diamondbacks’ success against left-handers. Even if the Dodgers rely on an opener or bullpen game at some point in the NLDS, Yarbrough didn’t figure to factor prominently.
Grove, Bobby Miller, James Outman, Ryan Pepiot and Emmet Sheehan make five Dodgers rookies on their NLDS roster.
“We do the best talking to James and Bobby and Emmet and Michael and everyone that hasn’t been in the playoffs before to just prepare them with what’s going to happen, but we’re humans. Emotions are emotions,” Freddie Freeman said on the eve of Game 1.
“I always tell everyone just let it happen. You work so hard in your whole life to become a Major Leaguer and you’re wanting to win a World Series. First time in, my first one I struck out my first at-bat because I was shaking in the box. That’s just how it is.
“You can lay out what it’s going to look like, but until they get into it and feel it, that’s the beauty of being in this situation. One of my favorite things about this is having one of the best records, you get home-field advantage. We’re playing defense first.
“You can get out there, play defense, kind of calm down by the time you get your first at-bat, potentially. We lay out what it’s going to look like, but let it happen. Let the emotions happen. Once you get through the first at-bat, maybe the first play, everything usually settles down and it’s just a baseball game. Until 60,000 people are screaming.”
Dodgers postseason roster for NLDS
Pitchers:
Ryan Brasier, Caleb Ferguson, Brusdar Graterol, Michael Grove, Joe Kelly, Clayton Kershaw, Lance Lynn, Bobby Miller, Shelby Miller, Ryan Pepiot, Evan Phillips, Emmet Sheehan, Alex Vesia
Catchers:
Austin Barnes, Will Smith
Designated hitter:
J.D. Martinez
Infielders:
Freddie Freeman, Kiké Hernández, Max Muncy, Miguel Rojas, Kolten Wong
Outfielders:
Mookie Betts, Jason Heyward, David Peralta, James Outman, Chris Taylor
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