The Dodgers’ NLCS roster is starting to take shape, and the first clue came with two familiar right-handers back in the mix.
Los Angeles has recalled Emmet Sheehan and Kyle Hurt from Triple-A Oklahoma City, a move that doesn’t automatically lock either pitcher onto the National League Championship Series roster. It does, though, signal that the Dodgers are at least keeping both available as they sort through the final details before Sunday evening’s Game 1 against the Milwaukee Brewers.
That kind of flexibility makes sense with the series format changing from five games to seven. The Dodgers got through the NLDS against the Atlanta Braves with a 3-1 series win while carrying 14 position players and just 12 pitchers, including four starters and eight relievers. This round could look different.
The rotation should stay the same with Tarik Skubal, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell, and Tyler Glasnow in place. The real question is how much help the bullpen will get, and whether Sheehan, Hurt, or both are added to give Los Angeles another arm for what should be a heavier pitching workload against Milwaukee.
If both right-handers make the roster, Brock Stewart could be the odd man out when the series opens in Milwaukee.
There’s another wrinkle if the Dodgers decide to go with 13 pitchers instead. In that case, one of the 14 position players would need to come off the roster as well. Miguel Rojas is dealing with a low back and hip injury that he suffered in Game 3 of the NLDS, and his status remains uncertain.
If Rojas can’t play, the decision becomes much simpler. If he is cleared, then Los Angeles would likely have to choose between Hyeseong Kim, who did not appear in the NLDS against Atlanta, and rookie outfielder Josue De Paula.
However it shakes out, the Dodgers have some real roster decisions ahead. Andrew Friedman and the club’s brain trust will have to balance every spot carefully before first pitch on Sunday.
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