Dave Roberts Hints at Young Reliever Making Dodgers Opening Day Roster

Los Angeles Dodgers fans should start getting familiar with the name Ben Casparius, if they aren’t already.

Casparius, 26, made his MLB debut last August, and pitched in three regular season appearances, allowing two earned runs across 8.1 innings pitched for a 2.16 ERA. He also had 12 strikeouts.

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Then, Casparius was crucial in October, as he made three appearances in the National League Championship Series and one in the World Series, a Game 4 start.

Overall, Casparius had a 1.42 ERA across 6.1 postseason innings.

Casparius entered 2025 spring training as something of an afterthought in a loaded L.A. bullpen that only got stronger with the signings of All-Stars Tanner Scott and Kirby Yates.

However, with the injuries/slow plays to four relievers — and especially the most recent one to right-handed pitcher Edgardo Henriquez — Casparius seemingly has a clear path to break camp with the team and travel to Japan for the Tokyo Series against the Chicago Cubs.

According to The Athletic’s Fabian Ardaya, manager Dave Roberts expects Casparius to do just that.

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Casparius continued his excellent spring on Wednesday against the Los Angeles Angels, facing four batters and getting them all out, two via the strikeout. Overall this spring, Casparius has a 3.86 ERA across 4.2 innings pitched.

Casparius would play a role as a multi-inning reliever for L.A., which would be especially crucial in Japan as the starting pitchers won’t be fully ramped up just yet.

Casparius would join the other locks in the bullpen, which currently include right-handers Kirby Yates and Blake Treinen, and left-handers Tanner Scott, Alex Vesia, and Anthony Banda.

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Photo Credit: Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images

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