Currently, the Dodgers have 28 players on the MLB Roster due to the September roster expansion. Two of those players will have to go, and unlike some sites who run headlines like “3 Dodgers Players who have no business being on the 2023 postseason roster,” I think they all deserve to be on the team, but of course, the Dodgers can only have 26 players. That means some are going to be disappointed. The writer of that blog went on to say that Kolten Wong, Alex Vesia, and Gavin Stone were the players who had no business being on the postseason roster.
Barring the dreaded injury-bug, here are the players who are “locks” to be on the postseason roster:
- Ryan Brasier
- Caleb Ferguson
- Brusdar Graterol
- Joe Kelly
- Clayton Kershaw
- Lance Lynn
- Shelby Miller
- Bobby Miller
- Ryan Pepiot
- Evan Phillips
- Emmet Sheehan
- Ryan Yarbrough
There needs to be 13 pitchers, so it would seem likely that the 13th spot boils down to Michael Grove and Alex Vesia. Michael Grove is fresh off the IL but pitched very well in his last outing. If healthy, he will probably get the nod. However, do not disrespect Alex Vesia! Since the All-Star game, he has a 2.73 ERA in 26.1 IP to go with a .80 WHIP. In those 26 IPs, he allowed 16 hits and struck out 29 while walking just one. The league has hit .170 against him since the break. “No business on being on the playoff roster” is something only a moron would say. It boils down to whether you want a lefty “one-inning deliver” or a RH long man in the bullpen. This is a tough call for the Dodger Brass, and I could argue it either way.
Now, let’s look at the 13 position players who are locks to make the squad:
- Austin Barnes
- Will Smith
- Freddie Freeman
- Kike Hernandez
- Max Muncy
- Miguel Rojas
- Chris Taylor
- Mookie Betts
- Jason Heyward
- James Outman
- David Peralta
- JD Martinez
The last spot boils down to Amed Rosario and Kolten Wong. Wong is a LH 2B who only has 20 ABs as a Dodger, so he would seem to be the odd man out, but it very well could boil down to the matchups against a particular team. Wong has had a terrible season, while Rosario is a Lefty Killer. So, it may depend upon who the team faces in the playoffs. For example, Milwaukee has almost all RH Pitchers. The Dodgers could feel that Wong may be the better choice. The last spot is certainly between Rosario and Wong. We shall see what transpires and if the dreaded injury bug strikes.
Let’s Play Two
Bobby Miller starts one game, and TBD starts the other one. I am not familiar with TBD’s stuff! The game starts at 12:10 p.m. PDT. I’d love to see Bobby Miller keep his ERA to way below 4.00.
Discussion (32)
Disagree, not disagreeable
I don’t trust Ferguson…I’d take my chances with VESIA instead.
I had assumed that the Dodgers have been grooming Hurt for the bullpen, but perhaps he’ll be in the mix for the rotation in the Spring. An injury–always a possibility–could put Hurt on the postseason roster.
We know Miller will be in the rotation next season, and Buehler will be back. Pepiot seems likely. Could Sheehan and Hurt round out the five? Not a lefty among them, but I like the talent. (And this list doesn’t include Knack or Frasso or River Ryan, who all seem close to ready.)
Certainly, I hope Kershaw comes back, but not counting on it. Yarbrough is the proverbial crafty southpaw, but he may be more useful as a long reliever/spot starter.
Maddux Bruns Is a power lefty, and he’s been getting raves lately–but still seems another year or two away.
OKC beat Round Rock 8-3. Hurt started and went 4 innings giving up one run and striking out 8. He also walked 3. OKC jumped out to a 4-0 lead, but by the 6th it was 4-3. Round Rock scored 2 runs, 1 earned off of Tyson Miller, who ended up getting the win. Feduccia’s homer in the bottom of the 6th made it 5-3, then the Dodgers scored 3 in the bottom of the 7th to end the scoring. Hudson, Vanasco and Suero each finished up with a scoreless inning. Avans was the offensive star going 4-4 with 3 driven in. Yonny Hernandez was the only other player with more than 1 hit. Vargas did not play and Busch was 1-5. Game two is tomorrow night.
You mean Mark can’t call me a moron anymore? It’s just nice to have someone else pick on me besides my wife!
Leave either Fergie or Vesia off, roll the dice on Hurt.
Note to everyone, including yours truly, you call someone names, your post will be deleted. No exceptions. This site is going to stay civil if it kills me. Personal attacks of any nature will not be tolerated. If you have issues with someone on the site, keep them to yourself.
According to Microsoft news, Snell loves being a Padre and wants to come back. Rocks lost number 100 for the first time in their history.
Smith 0-5. Hit a couple of balls hard but at fielders. BA under .260 now and OPS dropped under .800.
Freddie gets his 58th double.
Freddie with # 27. Three more and we have four players over 30. Video replay showed that the ball hit the bat twice when Taylor singled in the second, it broke his bat at the handle, then came off of the barrel.
It’s nice to see Muncy not trying to pull everything.
Or trying to jerk everything out of the park.
What a difference, a few hours makes. that’s what I love about baseball
7-0 in the fifth, and it’s not like we’re tearing the cover off the ball
Does anybody out actually think Minnesota Arizona Miami Chicago gonna crapshoot there way to a WS ring if so I got hundred dollars to your one they don’t
The offense has been pitiful ever since won the division. I don’t know why this is but sure reminds me of last year. Does anybody think it’s a coincidence that the two teams with five-day layoffs both got bounced in first round last year. In my view it’s the main argument for those crapshoot believers. Unfortunately, there no switch can turn on when it matters most but on the bright side Pepiot looked good.
#Dodgers Lineup for Game 2 of Double Header:
Taylor 3B
Freeman 1B
Smith C
Muncy DH
Outman CF
Hernandez RF
Peralta LF
Wong 2B
Rosario SS
Bobby Miller SP
Brooks Robinson, the Hall of Fame Baltimore Orioles third baseman who helped lead his team to two World Series championships and is widely regarded as baseball’s greatest defensive third baseman ever, died Sept. 26 at 86.
Pepiot should have just started the game. Ferguson looked awful. Heyward with three hits the bright spot so far.
So much for the opener theory for Pepiot!
Apparently it’s really really hard to look up as a base runner as you round 2B to see if the runner in front of you has a stop sign rounding 3B. Terrible minor
League fundamental base running blunder by Mookie.
https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/~g8AAOSwG15lBgWE/s-l500.jpg
My attempt at coping the cover photo of The Science of Hitting.
The old zone was at least 3 to 4 baseballs higher and now a couple of baseballs lower. If you couldn’t hit a HIGH strike in those days you weren’t a prospect.
Came across this gem reminisce interview with Ross Porter and Mark Cresse y’all might enjoy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vB9wAcB0rrI
I’m glad it’s those three we might play and not the Phillies. I can see them knocking out Atlanta again.
Do we have an option on Nelson for next year?
As I posted yesterday, my initial playoff pitching staff is:
1. Kershaw – L
2. Miller,
3. Pepiot
4. Yarborough- L
5. Fergie – L
6. Brasier
7. Graterol
8. Phillips
9. Sheehan
10. Lynn
11. Vesia
12. Shelby Miller
13. Kelly
Vesia is interesting. He had a brutal first half and his season numbers don’t look that hot. But he’s been good lately. In his last 7 games, he’s at 1.29 and .500 OPS against. And he has a track record. I’m bothered by his struggles with LHB, hence his reverse splits. We have RHP’s better vs RHB.
* Regarding the different strike zones between Koufax’s time and Kershaw time there’s no need to look beyond the cover photo on Teddy Ballgame’s book “The Science of Hitting” (I can’t seem to attach that photo here but maybe Bear of Mark could?)
Vesia makes the first round roster over Grove – 1 – he’s a lefty 2 – he has more experience in MLB and as a reliever
Rosario makes the first round over Wong – he allows the all platoon OF that Roberts likes to use and has more positional flexibility than Wong – plus he’s had a better year
3:10 PM ET Game 1
Dodgers (96-59)
Rockies (56-99)
SP Ryan Pepiot R
2-1 1.91 ERA PRIM
SP Chase Anderson R
0-6 5.75 ERA
Confirmed Lineup
2B Mookie Betts R
1B F. Freeman L
3B Max Muncy L
DH J. Martinez R
RF J. Heyward L
LF E. Hernandez R
CF James Outman L
SS Miguel Rojas R
C A. Barnes R
79° Wind 6 mph R-L
In a five game series with so many off days between games Lynn could be odd man out and bring him back in next seven game series
Guys! I’ve been relying on your baseball expertise all year SO regardless of which opponent is most convenient for you personally, which possible opponents do think would give the Dodgers the best opportunity to go all the way?
Guys! I’ve been relying on your baseball expertise all year SO regardless of which opponent is most convenient for you personally, which possible opponents do you think would give the Dodgers the best opportunity to go all the way?
… and I forgot about Kyle Hurt. He is eligible and could be a tool. Would the Dodgers include him instead of whom?
Ferguson or Vesia? Wow! Either one can be lights out or absolutely awful! I guess Caleb has a slight edge, but who knows. Lack of a top notch lefty concerns me. As for Wong or Rosario, I think Rosario should be the one . A sweep today gets dodgers to 98 wins, 100 would sure be sweet! Dodgers and Braves both could have a tough time winning the pennant, there is som really good pitching to face. Dodgers and Braves are thin on starters right now. Milwaukee probably has top 3 pitchers in playoffs , and the Phillies could take the Braves down again! Hold on it could get wild!
Vesia will make the roster.
I agree its going to be match-up based but Rosarios speed probably wins out.
So we will play Brewers-Cubs or Marlins winner who would you like to face?
I dont love a cross country trip to Miami.
I think Grove makes it and Vesia does not. Grove has swing and miss stuff that plays up out of the BP. In a post season game where base runners must be limited I like Grove’s stuff more so than Vesia’s. Alex can throw 94-95 but his FB seems to lack movement and is hittable. I think Caleb and Yarborough are the lefties out of the pen.
I also think Rosario gets the nod. He is the fastest player on the roster and when you need a stolen base or a pinch runner late in a game for JDM, he’s the guy.
I sure hope Mookie, Freddie and Will can get hot and carry the Dodgers.