The Dodgers and Mets have introduced their 26-man rosters for the NLCS this 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 Jr. added to the roster as Vesia’s alternative. Rojas, Ottavino, and Vesia will probably be eligible for the membership’s World Collection 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 capable of relaxation up through the Wild Card Collection, which the Dodgers didn’t take part in after capturing a bye by the primary spherical, and take part within the NLDS in opposition to the Padres. He re-aggravated the damage whereas enjoying within the sequence, 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 Instances notes that Rojas believes that he’s at present wholesome sufficient to play, the Dodgers have been evidently involved that if Rojas aggravated the damage additional he can be unavailable for the World Collection within the occasion that the membership advances. By leaving him off the NLCS roster solely, the Dodgers hope to provide Rojas the chance to relaxation up for the World Collection.
With the Dodgers’ main shortstop not accessible, Tommy Edman now figures to slip from heart discipline to shortstop regularly. That opens up heart discipline for utility bat Enrique Hernandez, who impressed through the NLDS with a three-for-nine efficiency that included a house run. The sturdy exhibiting 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 a Dodgers uniform. Kevin Kiermaier and Andy Pages are each on the roster as potential backup choices in heart discipline ought to an damage happen, whereas Mookie Betts, Chris Taylor, and Hernandez himself all have expertise at shortstop ought to a alternative for Edman be mandatory at any level through the sequence.
Whereas the Dodgers are dropping a key member of their center infield forward of the sequence, the Mets are returning considered one of their very own from the injured record in McNeil. The 32-year-old struggled by 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 on account of a fractured wrist in early September. 5 weeks after hitting the injured record, 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 down 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 be on the postseason roster as a center infield choice however has primarily discovered utilization as a defensive alternative up to now within the membership’s playoff run.
The addition of McNeil’s lefty bat to the lineup could possibly be significantly priceless for the Mets given the Dodgers’ lack of Vesia. Supervisor Dave Roberts advised reporters yesterday that Vesia was unlikely to make the NLCS roster on account of an intercostal damage, and that eventuality has now come to move. Whereas Roberts floated the potential of right-hander Tony Gonsolin (who missed the complete 2024 common season whereas rehabbing Tommy John surgical procedure) changing Vesia on the membership’s NLCS roster, evidently L.A. in the end determined to show to Honeywell slightly than lean on Gonsolin to get postseason outs in his first huge league look in over a 12 months. The 29-year-old Honeywell has posted a strong 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 choice because the membership weighs the potential of a number of bullpen video games through the course of the seven-game sequence.
