Mike Salas
The Los Angeles Dodgers announced their 31-Man roster for the Tokyo Series against the Chicago Cubs. Per the Dodgers X account, the names of all 31 players and where they will be playing is listed.
The team is traveling with sixteen pitchers, one designated hitter, three catchers, three infielders, four outfielders, and four utility players. Once the team is back in the states, this list will need to be dropped down to a 26-Man roster.
At first glance of the list of pitchers, you can determine eight pitchers will be making the roster and five spots will need to be filled. Per Dave Roberts, Dustin May will be the number five starter and was left in Arizona for buildup and strength training. If Tony Gonsolin’s back injury from a weight training accident is better, he will need time for buildup also to make the opening day roster.
The other two relievers that are still building up in Arizona are Evan Phillips and Michael Kopech. Slow walking these four pitchers is a good thing. It will give them enough time for a solid buildup and hopefully cut down on injuries.
This writer is predicting that Ben Casparius, Landon Knack, and Justin Wrobleski will make the 26-man roster until Gonsolin, Phillips, and Kopech, and are ready for the regular season. This year the Dodgers have the problem of having too many pitchers in the minors who demonstrated they have what it takes to be able to produce in show.
The organization will need to make a difficult decision on if Andy Pages or James Outman will be staying on the roster or be optioned back down to OKC. This Tokyo Series will be a job audition for Pages and Outman on who has what it takes to make the team.
First exhibition game can be seen Saturday March 15th on SportsNet LA at 3:00am PST. The Dodgers will first play the Yomiuri Giants and then the Hanshin Tigers in a night game.
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