LOS ANGELES — Miguel Rojas and Alex Vesia played key roles in getting the Dodgers to the National League Championship Series. But they won’t be part of the NLCS.
Both Rojas (adductor strain) and Vesia (intercostal strain) were left off the NLCS roster due to injuries. Outfielder Kevin Kiermaier and right-hander Brent Honeywell Jr. will take their places for the best-of-seven series against the New York Mets.
In Vesia’s case, there was no drama about his inclusion on the roster. He suffered the injury to his right side during Game 5 of the National League Division Series against the San Diego Padres and was not going to be on the NLCS roster. Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said the team is “hopeful” Vesia heals quickly enough to be an option if the Dodgers advance to the World Series.
The loss of Vesia is a significant one. He had a 1.76 ERA while leading the team with 67 appearances in the regular season then pitched three scoreless innings in the NLDS against the Padres. With him off the roster, the Dodgers will have just one left-handed pitcher (Anthony Banda) active for the NLCS.
“We’re going to do everything we can to keep treating it and put him in position for that,” Friedman said of Vesia returning for a potential World Series. “The early signs yesterday were optimistic, but who knows what that means.”
Rojas, meanwhile, had been playing through his muscle injury for weeks. But he left Game 3 of the NLDS after aggravating the injury and Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Rojas would have been playing with limited range at shortstop.
“He’s obviously a huge part of our ballclub,” Roberts said. “He’s playable. But I think we just, as an organization, felt that what he brings to the table as far as elite shortstop defense – we just feel right now physically he’s a little bit more compromised, that that can’t be brought to the table.”
Roberts said Rojas is also expected to be an option to return for the World Series.
With Rojas out for this round, Tommy Edman will be the Dodgers’ shortstop. That opens playing time in center field for Kiké Hernandez, who reminded the Dodgers of his ability to raise his level of play in the postseason with his solo home run off of Yu Darvish in Game 5 of the NLDS. A .238 career hitter with a .713 OPS during the regular season, Hernandez has hit .277 with an .899 OPS and 14 home runs in 75 postseason games.
By adding Kiermaier, the Dodgers can move Hernandez to first base late in games if Freddie Freeman’s injured ankle gets worse or if they want a better defensive alignment (with Kiermaier in center field).
Roberts also said he does not plan to have Gavin Lux in the starting lineup against the Mets’ two left-handed starting pitchers, Jose Quintana and Sean Manaea. Hernandez or Chris Taylor could start at second base in his place with Andy Pages an option in the outfield.
Freeman went through his workout Saturday and before the game Sunday with his injured right ankle taped outside his shoe in “spat” style.
Roberts was asked if he had ever seen a player play with his ankle taped that thoroughly.
“Not in this sport,” he said, laughing. “Maybe on the gridiron. He was spatted up.”
Manaea, the Mets’ Game 2 starter, was in the interview room before Sunday’s game. The Dodgers’ Walker Buehler did not meet the media – an indication the Dodgers are considering moving him back to Game 3 and going with a bullpen game in Game 2.
The Dodgers have three starting pitchers (Jack Flaherty, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Buehler) and Yamamoto only available for one start this round (in Game 4). Landon Knack is more likely to pitch out of the bullpen. A bullpen game during this series is almost inevitable. By doing it in Game 2, the relievers would have an off day to bounce back before Game 3.
“Well, that’s a good thought. That is a possibility,” Roberts said. “Honestly, we’re trying to figure out the best way to win tonight. I do feel after tonight it will open things up as far as Game 2 and Game 3.
“If tonight ends up being an exhaustive bullpen game that could change things. If it goes the way we expect, then maybe your thought comes to pass. We’ll see.”
The Mets opted to go with a 12-man pitching staff for the NLCS and added utilityman Jeff McNeil to the active roster. The Long Beach State product has been out since suffering a fractured wrist on Sept. 6. He played two games in the Arizona Fall League as a rehab assignment.
“He’s a left-handed hitter … his bat-to-ball skills are off the chart,” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said. “He provides versatility defensively. He’s a guy that can not only play the infield at second base but can play in the outfield, corner outfield – right field, left field if we need it.
“He’s been a huge part of this team the whole year. Obviously him being down for the past six weeks or so, we missed him. But he worked really hard to put himself in a position to where he’s now a player for us.”
