Dodgers likely to start season with four bench players

LOS ANGELES — After another uninspired Spring Training performance in Anaheim on Sunday night, I for one cannot wait to get on to the regular season. And with some decisions that the team made over the weekend, the Opening Day is getting easier to estimate.

Lamb to Minor League Camp

Jake Lamb, the former All-Star with the D-backs who’s been absolutely killing it this spring, was nevertheless reassigned to minor league camp. But make no mistake, if this roster were being constructed on who actually played best in Spring Training, Lamb would be a starter for this team. In Cactus League play, Lamb is hitting .333 with an OPS of 1.046. More like Rake Lamb, amirite?

Jake Lamb’s comeback is going great this spring. (Photo: Getty Images)

Though Lamb will start on the minor league roster this year, I would be very surprised if he isn’t the first call-up the minute a position player is needed. Though he’s played most of his career at third base, he can also play a little first base and corner outfield. This flexibility will be critical once the season gets rolling.

Rios to open the season on the roster

While Lamb has been good this spring, Edwin Rios has been great. Coming back after a 2021 that was ruined by injury, Rios showed up in camp with something to prove. And prove it he did. Like Lamb, his spring numbers have been eye-popping. With a .333/.462/.810 slash line in Arizona, Rios has rightfully earned a place in this Dodger lineup, and comes into the season with by far the best numbers of any position player. Hopefully, these number will be something that can be sustained throughout the season.

Edwin Rios’s sweet left handed swing has been on point all spring (Photo: Christian Peterson/Getty Images)

Manager Dave Roberts acknowledged that choosing between Lamb and Rios wasn’t easy. “Jake’s a big league ballplayer. We think very highly of Edwin,” Roberts said over the weekend “It’s something that having the options. If you do move a player like AJ Pollock, you have to be able to backfill, with talent. What we have in-house, we can do that.”

Position Players basically set

So, with the Lamb and Rios decision, that means that the roster is pretty well set as far as position players go:

Catchers: Smith and Barnes
Infielders: Freeman, Muncy, Trea Turner, Justin Turner, Rios, Lux, Alberto
Outfielders: Taylor, Bellinger, Betts

Starting with twelve bench players gives Roberts the ability to carry 16 pitchers until May 1st, when the rosters shrink back down to 26. Who exactly those sixteen pitchers will be, however, is still an option question, as several players are already known not to be ready for Opening Day yet.

We’ll keep an eye on the roster this week and let you know something as soon as we do.