Dodgers Officially Announce NLCS Roster, Miguel Rojas Left Off Due to Injury
The Los Angeles Dodgers revealed their roster for the National League Championship Series on Sunday morning with a few changes from the NLDS-winning roster.
Shortstop Miguel Rojas who has been playing through a near tear in his groin has been left off and replaced with veteran outfielder Kevin Kiermaier.
Relief pitcher Alex Vesia will not be appearing in the series either after leaving Sunday’s Game 5 injured. He has been replaced by Brent Honeywell.
With Rojas being left off the roster, Tommy Edman is taking over at shortstop. The Dodgers didn’t have an urgent need to keep Rojas in the lineup with the productivity of Edman during the NLDS.
Veteran outfielder Kevin Kiermaier, who wasn’t on the NLDS roster, returns and is expected to fill a role as a pinch-runner and defensive substitute in center field.
Kiermaier was acquired from the Toronto Blue Jays at the trade deadline and has made it known that this is his last season before he retires from playing baseball.
“It means the world,” Kiermier said of the NLDS win on Sunday while guzzling beer. “To be a part of this great group, having these moments, this is what you play for. For me to go out like this, whatever happens next, it’s about these moments right here and I like our chances moving forward but this is what you play for.”
Vesia is considered one of the top left-handed relievers in the league and suffered an injury while warming up before the eighth inning of Game 5 against the Padres. His absence is a significant setback for the Dodgers bullpen, which has been their strongest asset throughout the postseason.
The injury leaves Anthony Banda as the only left-handed arm in the bullpen.
Here is a look at the entire NLCS roster:
Starters: Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Jack Flaherty, Walker Buehler, Landon Knack
Relievers: Evan Phillips, Michael Kopech, Daniel Hudson, Blake Treinen, Brent Honeywell, Anthony Banda, Edgardo Henriquez, Ben Casparius, Ryan Brasier
Catchers: Will Smith, Austin Barnes
Infielders: Freddie Freeman, Gavin Lux, Max Muncy, Tommy Edman, Kiké Hernández
Outfielders: Mookie Betts, Teoscar Hernández, Kevin Kiermaier, Andy Pages, Chris Taylor
Designated hitter: Shohei Ohtani
Game 1 of the NLCS against the New York Mets is Sunday night at 5:15 PT on FOX.
Photo Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
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