The Los Angeles Dodgers won the National League pennant for the 22nd time in franchise history and are playing their fourth World Series in the last eight years.
This year’s Fall Classic pits them against the New York Yankees for a revival of the storied rivalry that’s largely been one-sided. The Yankees are 8-3 against the Dodgers in World Series history heading into their 2024 meeting.
New York won the first five head-to-head matchups before Brooklyn broke through in 1955. The Dodgers also were victorious when the teams last met in the 1981 World Series.
The Dodgers won two of three games during their visit to Yankee Stadium this season from June 7-9.
Both teams have dealt with injuries throughout the year but could be receiving some reinforcements in time for the World Series.
Dodgers possibly returning for World Series 2024
Tony Gonsolin
Initially deemed unlikely to pitch at all this year after undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2023, Tony Gonsolin began to get mentioned as a possible contributor for the postseason.
That didn’t come to pass for the NL Division Series or Championship Series, but the right-hander has continued throwing in the playoffs.
Gonsolin still doesn’t figure to be included on the Dodgers’ playoff roster for the World Series, but could sneak on if the team looks to have another multi-inning option out of the bullpen or someone who could make a short start.
Brusdar Graterol
The outlook for Brusdar Graterol was not overwhelmingly positive when he was put on the 15-day injured list Sept. 26 because of right shoulder inflammation.
“He’s been battling it ever since Spring Training,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said at the time. “Obviously, he was delayed getting to us to start his season, and even since he’s been back, it’s been kind of touch and go. Good, then not good.
“He got a scan, and obviously there’s some things going on in his shoulder, so we put him on the IL. What that looks like for the rest of the season, I just don’t know. I think it’s going to be a week-to-week situation.”
Graterol has recently been seen throwing from flat ground, and Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman deemed the right-hander a possibility to return for games against the Yankees.
Joe Kelly
Joe Kelly was a surprising omission from the Dodgers postseason roster for the NLDS. Roberts revealed hours before Game 1 that was due to Kelly suffering a right shoulder injury when pitching in a workout the team held during their bye week.
“I think if we were fortunate enough to get to the World Series, I think that would be the first conversation,” answered Roberts when asked if Kelly would return this year.
Miguel Rojas
Miguel Rojas aggravated his injury that initially was diagnosed as a left adductor tear he played through for most of the second half of the season. Rojas’ injury now has been deemed to be a sports hernia, but nevertheless the offseason is going to entail undergoing surgery.
Rojas didn’t play in the final two games of the NLDS and wasn’t active for the NLCS. Rojas is a presumed strong candidate to be on the Dodgers’ roster for the World Series.
Alex Vesia
Alex Vesia suffered an intercostal injury during Game 5 of the NLDS and also missed the matchup with the New York Mets.
Like with Graterol, Friedman declared Vesia a potential option for the Dodgers bullpen group in the World Series.
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