The Los Angeles Dodgers finalized their 26-man roster for the National League Championship Series ahead of Monday’s Game 1 against the Milwaukee Brewers, with right-handed pitcher Ben Casparius added and catcher Dalton Rushing removed. Despite a rough relief appearance in the NLDS, left-hander Clayton Kershaw was included on the roster, providing depth to a bullpen that leaned heavily left-handed in the previous round.
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Roster Adjustments and Strategic Depth
Vote For Your Favorite Dodgers Duo: Ohtani – Yamamoto, Betts – Freeman, Hernandez – Hernandez
Casparius spent most of the season with the Dodgers before being optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City in September. The team sought to get him back into form following his brief stint in the rotation in June, when he posted a 2.54 ERA in 39 innings. “You’re talking about a potential seven-game series versus a potential five-game series,” manager Dave Roberts said. “Obviously pitching becomes more paramount.” The move to add Casparius gives the Dodgers additional flexibility in what could be a long, seven-game series.
Meanwhile, Rushing, who made just one pinch-hit appearance in the Wild Card round and NLDS, was removed as the team no longer needed three catchers. With Will Smith returning to the lineup, Ben Rortvedt and Smith will handle catching duties against the Brewers.
Position Players and Utility Options
LA’s NLCS roster features 14 position players, including infielders Freddie Freeman, Max Muncy, Mookie Betts, and Miguel Rojas; outfielders Alex Call, Justin Dean, Teoscar Hernández, and Andy Pages; and utility options Tommy Edman, Kiké Hernández, and Hyeseong Kim. Roberts highlighted Kim’s versatility, noting, “The versatility from the shortstop to the second base, potentially in the outfield, the left-handed bat, the speed, which we’ve utilized. He’s a valuable player.”
Pitching Staff and Postseason Performance
LA will carry 12 pitchers, including starters Tyler Glasnow, Blake Snell, and Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
The bullpen consists of righties Roki Sasaki, Emmet Sheehan, Blake Treinen, and Ben Casparius, along with lefties Alex Vesia, Jack Dreyer, Anthony Banda, Clayton Kershaw, and Justin Wrobleski. Starting pitching has been the hallmark of the Dodgers’ postseason, posting a 2.02 ERA and 32.6% strikeout rate through the first two rounds. Roberts’ strategy emphasizes the importance of pitching depth as the series progresses.
With a mix of fresh arms, versatile position players, and the two-way threat of Shohei Ohtani, the Dodgers enter the NLCS ready to adjust to the rigors of a potentially long postseason battle.
