Questions about infielder Miguel Rojas’ status for the NLCS continue as the Los Angeles Dodgers mull roster decisions for the postseason.
The Dodgers are giving Rojas time
On Friday, a full day after the Dodgers’ NLDS celebration, manager Dave Roberts said the Dodgers are still waiting to see how Rojas progresses before making a definitive call either way.
“Today was encouraging,” Roberts said. “He had imaging, and a lot of it was kind of stuff where he has had prior history. … There’s nothing definitive, but I will say today was a step in the right direction.”
Roberts added that Rojas took part in some baseball activities, fueling optimism, but with a flight to Milwaukee left for the Dodgers, they’ll be patient with the 37-year-old veteran.
“I just think that there’s no upside in announcing it yet when we still have a plane flight, there’s another workout, there’s no deadline right now, we’re not up against it,” Roberts explained.
“So we have time to ultimately make that decision.”
How Rojas got injured
Rojas did not play in Game 4 of the NLDS after leaving Game 3 with a lower back injury he sustained from a defensive player.
He stayed in for a few innings before leaving in the eighth inning, mid-at-bat. It was a 1-1 count after Rojas swung at a foul ball.
Tommy Edman came in to relieve Rojas, who was favoring his back in the dugout before heading to the clubhouse.
The following day, the Dodgers did not make Rojas available. Despite his optimism that he would return soon, he did not play and seemed to favor his lower back.
Who could replace Miguel Rojas in the NLCS?
The Dodgers will carry 13 position players and 13 pitchers, a departure from their 14-position player, 12-pitcher split in the NLDS, Roberts announced.
The cleanest move for the Dodgers would be to just swap Rojas out for a pitcher and keep Hyeseong Kim as a speed and defensive threat.
If Kim is coming off the roster no matter what and they want a more natural replacement, Alex Freeland makes sense.
He can play all over the infield and switch-hit, even if his bat is unspectacular.
