Dodgers Analysis: Changes to the NLCS Roster? Who’s in Who’s Out

LOS ANGELES, CA—Over the first two rounds of the postseason, the Los Angeles Dodgers have opted to go with a more position player 26-man roster, which they can do due to the uniqueness surrounding two-way player Shohei Ohtani.

However, as the team advances to their second consecutive National League Championship Series in the standard 2-3-2 format, the Dodgers roster this time could look a bit more traditional to accommodate the extra games and fewer off days.

Tanner Scott Ineligible for NLCS Roster

One name that won’t be on the NLCS roster is left-handed relief pitcher Tanner Scott, as he is ineligible to return after being removed from the NLDS roster due to injury.

Scott, 31, had yet to appear in any postseason game for the Dodgers this season, and that was likely by design as the lefty had one of the worst seasons of his career with an ERA over four and blowing a career-worst ten saves.

Still, there was a role for Scott in the postseason, such as a mop-up job, which was an opportunity that presented itself on Wednesday, during the Dodgers’ 8-2 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies, but it was stated after the game that Scott was not at the stadium due to personal reasons.

The next day, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts confirmed that Scott would be removed from the NLDS roster and replaced by lefty Justin Wrobleski after Scott had undergone a procedure to treat an abscess somewhere in the lower body area on Wednesday night.

“I don’t think we knew exactly the extent of it,” Roberts explained of not making a roster move in time for Game 3. “And so to kind of make that preemptive decision, I think we were probably a little bit more in flux.”

While Scott was removed, Scott would be eligible to return to the Dodgers’ 26-man roster should they advance to the World Series, a door that still remains open, per Dave Roberts.

Adding Another Pitcher

The Dodgers went with a 15/11 split for their roster during the NLDS, which gave them three starting pitchers (four, including Ohtani) and eight relievers from the bullpen.

They continued to run back the three-catcher trio of Will Smith, Dalton Rushing, and Ben Rortvedt while also including late-inning defensive replacement and speed threat Justin Dean, but that’s something we could see change for the best-of-seven rounds.

With the extra set of games and fewer off days, the Dodgers would benefit from adding another arm to the bullpen, especially if they need either Emmet Sheehan or Clayton Kershaw to start a game in the middle of the series.

There are a few options that come to mind, such as re-adding young flamethrower Edgardo Henriquez, or, if Kirby Yates is healthy, they could consider him.

However, I think it’ll come down to right-handers Ben Casparius or Will Klein for the additional bullpen spot.

I would lean more towards Casparius, as he is an arm that could pitch more than one inning if needed —a role we have not seen Klein thrust into this season. If Sheehan starts a game or picks up bulk innings throughout the series, Casparius could fill the role of another multi-inning arm.

Still, Klein did flash fantastic stuff with the Dodgers at the end of the season and was a fan-favorite pick to rejoin the Dodgers bullpen in October before being optioned at the end of the regular season.

Who’s Out?

Multiple players might be left off the roster for the upcoming series, whether they face the Cubs or the Brewers.

Perhaps the biggest question is whether the Dodgers will continue to carry three catchers on their active roster, especially since All-Star catcher Will Smith seems to be healthy, as he started back-to-back games in the NLDS after coming in late during the first two games.

If Smith is full go, it’s redundant to carry all three catchers, and unfortunately, the odd man out will likely be Ben Rortvedt, as he does not have much weight with the bat, as his left-handed counterpart on the bench, Dalton Ruhsing, does.

While many debated whether Rortvedt should continue to start due to his prowess behind the dish, his game-calling, and above-average framing ability, there was no situation he’d start over Smith, as he’s a top twenty-five hitter in the sport.

The next odd man out could be Justin Dean, who was added to the roster as a late-inning defensive specialist and speed option for pinch-running situations.

So far in his few defense innings in center field, he’s looked a bit shaky, minus a few good catches in center field during Game Three of the NLDS.

Also, due to the sheer amount of left-handers the Phillies had on their roster, there was never a scenario where Michael Conforto made the roster, despite posting reverse splits this season.

Regardless of who moves on between the Cubs and Brewers, there could be a scenario where Conforto replaces either Dean or Alex Call, but that remains to be seen, as Call has hit well in his few opportunities given.

Predictions

Position Players

Catchers (2): Will Smith, Dalton Rushing

Infielders (3): Freddie Freeman, Mookie Betts, Max Muncy

Outfielders (4): Teoscar Hernández, Andy Pages, Alex Call, Justin Dean

Utility (3): Miguel Rojas, Tommy Edman, Kiké Hernández

Designated Hitter (1): Shohei Ohtani

Pitching

Starters (4): Blake Snell, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Shohei Ohtani, Tyler Glasnow

Relievers (10): Clayton Kershaw, Anthony Banda, Emmet Sheehan, Justin Wrobleski, Blake Treinen, Roki Sasaki, Alex Vesia, Jack Dreyer, Ben Casparius, Edgardo Henriquez

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