The Dodgers carried an extra arm into the National League Championship Series, adding left-hander Justin Wrobleski to a 26-man roster built for a long series against Milwaukee. Hyeseong Kim, who was on the Division Series club largely as a late-game speed option, was the player left out as Los Angeles prepared for Sunday night’s opener at American Family Field.
Game 1 is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET, 7 p.m. local time and 5 p.m. PT, with FOX, FOX Deportes and FOX One carrying the broadcast.
Manager Dave Roberts wanted more pitching coverage for the best-of-seven set, and Wrobleski fit the need. The left-hander was a first-time All-Star this season and offers more than a one-batter matchup. He has worked in short relief before, while retaining enough length to take multiple innings if a game gets sideways early.
Rojas cleared after back concern
Miguel Rojas made the roster after lower-back discomfort put his availability in question during the previous round. The veteran infielder came through the club’s workouts following the NLDS feeling well, then had no issue with the trip to Milwaukee.
His presence gives the Dodgers another experienced infield hand on a bench that also includes Kiké Hernández and Josue De Paula. Rojas had been involved in the roster ripple during the Division Series, when Kim’s only appearance came as a defensive substitute after the back issue arose.
Why De Paula stayed over Kim
Kim did not get a chance to make an impact as a pinch-runner in the NLDS, despite being selected in large part for his speed. With the Dodgers choosing a 13th pitcher, the final decision came down to Kim and De Paula, the organization’s top prospect and No. 4 overall prospect in MLB Pipeline’s rankings.
De Paula has a more defined October assignment: he is the club’s primary left-handed pinch-hit choice. The Dodgers would prefer not to use him in the field except in an emergency, but his plate appearances have carried weight. In NLDS Game 4, he drew a pinch-hit walk during the rally that eventually put Andy Pages in position to deliver the go-ahead hit.
That quality of at-bat tipped the decision. In a series where one late bullpen move can shape an entire night, Los Angeles kept De Paula’s left-handed bat and added Wrobleski’s innings.
Dodgers NLCS roster
| Role | Players |
|---|---|
| Catchers | Will Smith, Hunter Feduccia |
| First baseman | Freddie Freeman |
| Second baseman | Tommy Edman |
| Shortstop | Mookie Betts |
| Third baseman | Max Muncy |
| Outfielders | Teoscar Hernández, Andy Pages, Kyle Tucker |
| Utility and bench | Kiké Hernández, Miguel Rojas, Josue De Paula |
| Two-way player | Shohei Ohtani |
| Starting pitchers | Tarik Skubal, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow |
| Relief pitchers | Edwin Díaz, Tanner Scott, Edgardo Henriquez, Alex Vesia, Evan Phillips, Roki Sasaki, Kris Bubic, Brock Stewart, Justin Wrobleski |
The roster carries four listed starters and nine relievers, a construction that gives Roberts room to manage aggressively from the first game. The Dodgers have their usual star power across the diamond, but the final cut came down to October’s quieter jobs: covering innings, taking a tough bench at-bat, and being ready when a late-game opening appears.
