The Dodgers arrived in Milwaukee with one important infield question still hanging over the club, but Miguel Rojas appears likely to be part of their National League Championship Series roster against the Brewers. Manager Dave Roberts said Saturday at American Family Field that he expects the veteran infielder to be available for the series, even if his status for the opener remains unsettled.
Rojas expected to make the NLCS roster
Rojas left Game 3 of the National League Division Series in the middle of an at-bat after lower-back pain became too much to manage. The issue had surfaced earlier in the game during a defensive play, and he was unable to go for Game 4.
Los Angeles used the days after the Division Series to monitor how Rojas responded to workouts and to the flight into Milwaukee. Roberts indicated the club has seen enough to believe carrying him will not leave the bench undermanned.
- Rojas aggravated his lower back while playing defense in NLDS Game 3.
- He departed that game during an at-bat and did not play in Game 4.
- The Dodgers evaluated his condition through workouts and travel before setting the Championship Series roster.
- His availability for Game 1 is not yet certain, though the club expects him to be on the roster.
“I’m expecting him to be a part of it, be on the roster,” Roberts said.
A pitching addition reshapes the bench
The Dodgers were already set to trim one position player from their Division Series group in order to add a 13th pitcher for the NLCS. The need is for a multi-inning option, with Emmet Sheehan and Justin Wrobleski the leading candidates to fill that role.
With Rojas projected to stay, the roster squeeze is likely to land on either Hyeseong Kim or Josue De Paula.
Kim and De Paula served different jobs
- Kim was included for his speed and defensive value. His lone Division Series appearance came as a late defensive replacement in Game 4 after Rojas’ injury.
- De Paula gives the Dodgers their principal left-handed pinch-hitting threat off the bench.
- De Paula appears more likely to remain, leaving Kim as the probable roster casualty if Los Angeles finalizes the anticipated pitching move.
Game 1 waits Sunday night
The series opens Sunday at American Family Field, with Game 1 scheduled for 8 p.m. ET, 7 p.m. local time in Milwaukee and 5 p.m. PT. It will air on FOX, FOX Deportes and FOX One.
For the Dodgers, Rojas’ place on the roster would preserve a trusted veteran infielder after an uneasy finish to the Division Series. Whether his back allows him to take the field immediately is another matter, but Roberts’ expectation gives Los Angeles a clearer picture as the Brewers series begins.
