LOS ANGELES — The Dodgers, as expected, did not include left-handed reliever Alex Vesia or shortstop Miguel Rojas on the National League Championship Series roster they announced Sunday, as each continues to deal with injuries.
Rojas, the club’s everyday shortstop down the stretch, has been playing through a torn left adductor for months, managing the issue with injections and scheduled rest days. Doing so, however, only managed the symptoms rather than erase them. Rojas aggravated the injury during Game 3 of the National League Division Series against the San Diego Padres while trying to stretch for the second-base bag. He exited a half-inning later when he clearly limped around the bases. Rojas, 35, has enjoyed a career-best season at the plate, hitting .283 with a .748 OPS in 103 games.
Tommy Edman is expected to take over the everyday shortstop duties in Rojas’ absence, with Game 5 hero Kiké Hernández likely earning starts in center field (except in a scenario where Freddie Freeman’s sprained ankle prevents him from playing, in which case Hernández would slide to third base). Veteran center fielder Kevin Kiermaier, who has already said this will be his final season, was added to the roster in Rojas’ place.
Vesia had emerged as one of the most valuable left-handed relievers in baseball this season, putting together a 1.76 ERA in 67 appearances during the regular season and adding three scoreless appearances against the Padres in the NLDS. During the last one, Vesia recorded a strikeout to complete the seventh inning but waved over the trainers before beginning the eighth, citing what he hoped was just a cramp in his side area. Further imaging on Saturday revealed an intercostal strain.
Anthony Banda, who emerged this season after being acquired in a minor trade in May, will be the only left-hander in a Dodgers bullpen as they match up against the New York Mets, who boast Brandon Nimmo, Jesse Winker and Jeff McNeil as left-handed-hitting options.
Brent Honeywell Jr. took Vesia’s spot on the roster. The NLCS begins on Sunday night at Dodger Stadium.
(Top photo of Alex Vesia: Charles LeClaire / USA Today)
