SEATTLE — The Dodgers’ greatest questions within the closing days of the common season stay well being associated.
In a 5-3 win in opposition to the Seattle Mariners on Saturday night time, Max Muncy missed a third-straight sport whereas battling leg issues, although the Dodgers are nonetheless optimistic he’ll be prepared for Tuesday’s postseason opener.
Utilityman Tommy Edman did return to the lineup, however solely as designated hitter as he continues to nurse his lengthy bothersome ankle harm.
And within the batting cage pregame, Will Smith resumed taking swings, however solely off softer foam balls, persevering with to go away his standing for subsequent week doubtful as he tries to return from a proper hand fracture.
“I suppose I’m nonetheless within the hope stage proper now together with his availability on Tuesday,” supervisor Dave Roberts mentioned.
Past that, nevertheless, the Dodgers produce other roster selections to make earlier than they open their best-of-three wild-card collection. Getting into the ultimate day of the common season, it’s nonetheless unclear precisely what their preliminary postseason roster will appear like.
The largest uncertainties revolve across the pitching employees, and a bullpen particularly that has been higher in current days, together with 9 straight strikeouts to finish Saturday’s sport.
Whereas the Dodgers’ roster discussions stay fluid, Roberts certain made it sound on Friday night time like embattled nearer Tanner Scott and rookie phenom Roki Sasaki will probably be on the playoff roster. He additionally confirmed that Emmet Sheehan will shift to the bullpen, as anticipated. Veterans Blake Treinen and Alex Vesia are additionally undoubtedly locks, even contemplating Treinen’s struggles (he appeared sharp in a scoreless inning Saturday, working round a leadoff single within the seventh with three strikeouts).
From there, although, there are a number of reduction candidates for the Dodgers to guage — particularly as they take into account potential matchup preferences for the wild-card spherical.
For the time being, the membership has a possible overabundance of left-handed relievers. Along with Vesia and Scott, rookies Jack Dreyer and Justin Wrobleski, plus resurgent veteran Anthony Banda, are additionally populating the bullpen at present. Clayton Kershaw, who will make his closing profession regular-season begin Sunday, might be a candidate to pitch in reduction in October, as properly.
From the best facet, the membership has simply three energetic relievers along with Sheehan: Treinen, Sasaki, and hard-throwing rookie Edgardo Henriquez (who earned his first save of the season Saturday by placing out the facet within the ninth).
There are a pair methods the Dodgers may stability out their right-handed depth, in the event that they really feel the necessity.
One can be utilizing Tyler Glasnow out of the bullpen within the wild-card spherical — an possibility the Dodgers preserved Saturday by eradicating him from his closing regular-season begin after simply three innings.
“Had dialog with him,” Roberts mentioned. “He’s prepared for no matter we’d like of him.”
One other identify Roberts threw into the combination: Rookie Ben Casparius, who was demoted to the minors three weeks in the past however stays a “viable candidate” to pitch within the postseason as a weapon in opposition to right-handed hitters. He’s scheduled to hitch the staff for a exercise Monday again in Los Angeles.
Even when Casparius isn’t included on the wild-card roster, Roberts additionally mentioned that he’ll stay in consideration if the Dodgers are to advance.
“Ben went to triple A and did precisely what we requested him to do: Dominate right-handed hitters,” Roberts mentioned. “Give a whole lot of credit score to Ben.”
The Dodgers’ rotation order can be a lingering unknown, with Roberts saying the staff will play issues “near the vest” earlier than publicly saying their Sport 1 starter.
Shohei Ohtani is an choice to open the collection, having final pitched on Tuesday (precisely one week earlier than Sport 1 will happen). He threw a bullpen session Saturday earlier than getting the night time off at T-Cellular Park.
Ohtani completed the common season giving up only one run over his closing 4 begins as a pitcher, and was stretched out to 6 innings final week in what was his longest outing since getting back from a second profession Tommy John surgical procedure.
Nonetheless, there are two-way dynamics for the Dodgers to contemplate. They might, for example, elect to avoid wasting Ohtani for a possible Sport 3, and permit him to focus solely on hitting within the collection’ first two video games. However then, they might additionally threat getting eradicated earlier than he ever pitches.
Among the many place participant group, there might be but extra selections if the Dodgers elect to hold a most allotment of 13 pitchers.
To little shock, Roberts mentioned he envisions a postseason position for longtime October hero Kiké Hernández, who had been hitting simply .191 this season earlier than gathering six hits over the past three days (together with a double on Thursday, a house run Friday and two extra doubles Saturday, the latter of which plated two runs to interrupt a ninth-inning tie).
Disappointing offseason signing Michael Conforto has additionally just lately helped his case, hitting .273 over his final 16 video games after recording a single and a stroll Saturday.
If the Dodgers do should trim a hitter, bench gamers akin to Alex Name or Hyeseong Kim might be on the roster fringes; although they supply worth with their contact capacity, protection and pace.
Over the following 72 hours, these are all questions the Dodgers should reply. For now — publicly not less than — they’re kicking the can down the highway so long as they will.
“You see guys enjoying, competing for a possibility to be on the postseason roster,” Roberts mentioned, after the Dodgers improved to 14-5 over their final 19 video games. “I like that battle. They’re leaving all of it on the market. That’s all I ask.”
