The Dodgers and Mets introduced their 26-man rosters for the NLCS on Sunday afternoon. Dodgers shortstop Miguel Rojas was a notable omission from the L.A. roster, whereas Mets infielder Jeff McNeil is notably becoming a member of the membership’s roster after a wrist fracture sidelined him all through the ultimate month of the common season and the early a part of the playoffs.
Rojas was changed on the membership’s roster by outfielder Kevin Kiermaier, whereas right-hander Adam Ottavino was dropped from the Mets roster to accommodate McNeil. Left-hander Alex Vesia was additionally left off the Dodgers’ newest roster, with right-hander Brent Honeywell added to the roster as Vesia’s substitute. Rojas, Ottavino and Vesia might be eligible for the membership’s World Sequence roster as a result of they weren’t faraway from the roster mid-series.
Rojas departs the membership’s postseason roster after struggling {a partially} torn adductor muscle late within the common season. The 35-year-old veteran was in a position to relaxation up throughout the wild-card collection, which the Dodgers didn’t take part in after capturing a bye by means of the primary spherical, and took part within the NLDS towards the Padres.
He reaggravated the harm whereas enjoying within the collection, nonetheless, and appeared in simply three of the 5 video games whereas going 2-for-8 on the plate.
Whereas Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Occasions notes that Rojas believes he’s at present wholesome sufficient to play, the Dodgers have been involved that if Rojas aggravated the harm additional, he can be unavailable for the World Sequence if the membership advances. By leaving him off the NLCS roster completely, the Dodgers hope to permit Rojas to relaxation up for the World Sequence.
With the Dodgers’ major shortstop not obtainable, Tommy Edman now figures to slip from heart discipline to shortstop commonly. That opens up heart discipline for utility bat Enrique Hernandez, who impressed throughout the NLDS with a 3-for-9 efficiency that included a house run.
The sturdy displaying added to Hernandez’s prolonged postseason resume, as he’s a profession .277/.351/.548 hitter in 211 journeys to the plate throughout 75 playoff video games, 64 of which have are available in a Dodgers uniform. Kevin Kiermaier and Andy Pages are each on the roster as potential backup choices in heart discipline ought to an harm happen, whereas Mookie Betts, Chris Taylor and Hernandez himself all have expertise at shortstop ought to a substitute for Edman be crucial at any level throughout the collection.
Whereas the Dodgers are dropping a key member of their center infield forward of the collection, the Mets are returning one in all their very own from the injured listing in McNeil. The 32-year-old struggled by means of a second consecutive down season on the plate this 12 months, posting only a .238/.308/.384 slash line (97 wRC+) in 128 video games earlier than happening the shelf as a consequence of a fractured wrist in early September.
5 weeks after hitting the injured listing, McNeil now returns to the roster to supply the Mets with a flexible lefty bat able to slotting into second base, third base and the outfield corners as wanted.
Journeyman Jose Iglesias has dealt with the keystone in McNeil’s absence however might sit on the bench for the NLCS after hitting simply .207/.233/.207 in 30 journeys to the plate throughout seven video games this postseason. Rookie Luisangel Acuna can also be on the postseason roster as a center infield possibility however has primarily discovered utilization as a defensive substitute so far within the membership’s playoff run.
The addition of McNeil’s lefty bat to the lineup may very well be significantly precious for the Mets, given the Dodgers’ lack of Vesia. Supervisor Dave Roberts informed reporters Saturday that Vesia was unlikely to make the NLCS roster as a consequence of an intercostal harm, and that eventuality has now come to move.
Whereas Roberts floated the opportunity of right-hander Tony Gonsolin (who missed your complete 2024 common season whereas rehabbing Tommy John surgical procedure) changing Vesia on the membership’s NLCS roster, plainly L.A. finally determined to show to Honeywell moderately than lean on Gonsolin to get postseason outs in his first massive league look in over a 12 months.
The 29-year-old Honeywell has posted a stable 2.63 ERA in 37 2/3 innings of labor for the Pirates and Dodgers this 12 months regardless of a lackluster 4.28 FIP and figures to supply L.A. with a much-needed multi-inning possibility because the membership weighs the opportunity of a number of bullpen video games throughout the seven-game collection.
