Dodgers Set Roster for Best of 7 NLCS Against the Braves with Several Changes
The Los Angeles Dodgers have officially announced their 26-man roster for the National League Championship Series against the Atlanta Braves. For the best of 7 series, there were a couple notable changes.
Here is your 26-man roster for the NLCS. #RepeatLA pic.twitter.com/LuVr4dwJGu
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) October 16, 2021
On Friday afternoon, Dave Roberts told media that the roster would likely be constructed of 13 pitchers and 13 position players after going with 12 pitchers and 14 position players in the divisional round. The change to the roster was the return of LHP Justin Bruihl, as well as righty reliever Evan Phillips. To make room for the pitcher, outfielder/utility fielder Billy McKinney was removed from the roster, as well as veteran lefty David Price.
With Atlanta featuring a number of slugging left-handed batters on the bench and in the lineup, including Freddie Freeman and old friend Joc Pederson, bringing Bruihl (2.89 ERA, .150 batting average allowed vs LHB) back into the picture was a no brainer for the Dodgers, as well as reliever Evan Phillips to pad the bullpen.
PITCHERS
- RHP Phil Bickford
- LHP Justin Bruihl
- RHP Walker Buehler
- RHP Tony Gonsolin
- RHP Brusdar Graterol
- RHP Kenley Jansen
- RHP Joe Kelly
- RHP Corey Knebel
- RHP Evan Phillips
- RHP Max Scherzer
- RHP Blake Treinen
- LHP Julio Urias
- LHP Alex Vesia
On the position player side, the Dodgers drop outfielder Billy McKinney to make room for the pitchers added for the series, but outfielder Steve Souza remains active. Max Muncy remains off the active roster, sadly.
#Dodgers announce NLCS roster. Add LHP Justin Bruihl and RHP Evan Phillips. Subtract OF-1B Billy McKinney and LHP David Price. No miracle healing of Max Muncy's elbow yet
— Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) October 16, 2021
Position Players
- C Austin Barnes
- 1B Matt Beaty
- CF Cody Bellinger
- RF Mookie Betts
- IF/OF Gavin Lux
- LF AJ Pollock
- 1B/PH Albert Pujols
- SS Corey Seager
- C Will Smith
- OF Steven Souza
- IF/OF Chris Taylor
- 3B Justin Turner
- 2B Trea Turner
First pitch for game 1 of the NLCS is set for 5:07 PM PT at Truist Park in Atlanta. Left-hander Max Fried gets the ball for Brian Snitker’s club while the Dodgers counter with another bullpen game.
NEXT: Corey Knebel to Start Game 1 of the NLCS Tonight
The bull-pen game was inevitable and the risk-reward is huge if it ends in a win.
I hope Muncy is on the 2001 Derek Fisher rehab program where he became an elite shooter because all he did was shoot 3’s and in the playoffs torched the Spurs and shot 75% from 3.
Taryn, I made this comment elsewhere so excuse the redundancy…if the Braves were in the NL West, they wouldn’t even be in the playoffs!
It’s a mistake to look past them. It’s looking more and more like a trap game.
Hopefully there is no hangover effect as in game 1 vs the Giants!
But I have faith the Dodgers know the stakes, nobody looking past the bravos here. Mantra has been the same throughout…one game, one AB, one pitch at a time. Locked-in and ready to go. Let’s continue the March to REPEAT LA!
$261 Million Payroll. Can throw away $30 Million for some guy to sit and watch.
Something is wrong in MLB.
Waaaaaa
Robby, you wanna talk about what’s wrong with baseball? Try the fact that the Houston Cheaters are still in existence! Well at least as currently constructed anyway.
Exactly, Eight men out …..
Apparently not many history aficionados here.