The Los Angeles Dodgers are in the National League Division Series for an eighth consecutive season, though face the San Diego Padres in the postseason for the first time.
The Padres are a roughly one year ahead of expectations as they enjoyed a successful season and competed with the Dodgers in the National League West. They were on the cusp of potentially stealing the division title until losing two of three to the Dodgers in September.
Both teams face questions ahead of the NLDS beginning at Globe Life Field on Tuesday, though for the Dodgers that’s more centered around discretionary decisions with their postseason roster and starting rotation for the best-of-five series. Meanwhile, the Padres hope Mike Clevinger and Dinelson Lamet can return from respective injuries.
The Dodgers opted for 15 position players and 13 pitchers on their active roster for the Wild Card round and started Walker Buehler in Game 1. Will there be any changes moving forward?
Members of the DodgerBlue.com staff submitted their opinions for the latest roundtable.
Daniel Starkand (@DStarkand):
Starting pitchers: Walker Buehler, Tony Gonsolin, Clayton Kershaw, Dustin May, Julio Urias
Relief pitchers: Pedro Baez, Dylan Floro, Victor Gonzalez, Brusdar Graterol, Kenley Jansen, Joe Kelly, Adam Kolarek, Jake McGee, Blake Treinen
Catchers: Austin Barnes, Will Smith, Keibert Ruiz
Infielders: Kiké Hernandez, Max Muncy, Edwin Rios, Corey Seager, Chris Taylor, Justin Turner
Outfielders: Cody Bellinger, Mookie Betts, Terrance Gore, Joc Pederson, AJ Pollock
The only roster change I made was adding Dylan Floro in favor of Matt Beaty. The reason for that is pretty simple and has nothing to do with Beaty, who was solid in his limited opportunities.
With the Dodgers potentially playing five straight days in a row, they can certainly benefit from an extra pitcher on the roster. Floro is coming off a great season, making him the obvious candidate to get that roster spot.
And with the universal designated hitter, there aren’t nearly as many pinch-hit opportunities available, so there isn’t really a scenario I see Beaty getting playing time.
Terrance Gore serves a purpose as a pinch-runner in late, close games, and Keibert Ruiz is necessary as a third catcher for games that Austin Barnes starts and Will Smith is the DH.
As far as the rotation goes, I would play it by ear after Walker Buehler and Clayton Kershaw, considering Julio Urias, Dustin May and Tony Gonsolin all could potentially pitch out of the bullpen in Games 1 or 2.
I personally would use Urias in a relief spot in one of the first two games, and then he could potentially come back and start Game 5. That would leave Gonsolin and May to start Games 3 and 4, and I would go in that order even though it doesn’t matter a whole lot.
Jeff Spiegel (@JeffSpiegel):
Rotation: Clayton Kershaw, Walker Buehler, Tony Gonsolin, Julio Urias (if needed), Clayton Kershaw (if needed)
Starting pitchers: Walker Buehler, Tony Gonsolin, Clayton Kershaw, Julio Urias
Relief pitchers: Pedro Baez, Dylan Floro, Victor Gonzalez, Brusdar Graterol, Kenley Jansen, Joe Kelly, Adam Kolarek, Dustin May, Jake McGee, Blake Treinen
Catchers: Austin Barnes, Will Smith, Keibert Ruiz
Infielders: Matt Beaty, Kiké Hernandez, Max Muncy, Edwin Rios, Corey Seager, Chris Taylor, Justin Turner
Outfielders: Cody Bellinger, Mookie Betts, Joc Pederson, AJ Pollock
The rotation is the big one for me: I’ve got Clayton Kershaw getting the ball in Game 1, and then again in Game 5 if needed. For starters, he’s the best pitcher the Dodgers have — and the only one they’d feel comfortable pitching on short rest given Walker Buehler’s blisters.
And on that note, I prefer Kershaw on short rest over whoever the fifth starter would be simply because he has been there before — and that fifth starter can then become a bullpen weapon instead. Lastly, the Padres are much worse against lefties than righties.
They hit home runs at a lower rate (2.8% of at-bats against lefties, 5% against righties) and strikeout at a higher rate (26% of the time against lefties, 23.5% against righties). This last point is also why I’d prefer Julio Urias in Game 4 over Dustin May, who I also view as a much bigger bullpen weapon given his nasty sinker.
Roster-wise I’ve got just one change: Dylan Floro replacing Terrance Gore. The Dodgers knew the bullpen would be underused in the opening round so they took Gore on as a luxury item. I don’t think they’ll feel the same level of comfort this time around and so they opt for an extra bullpen arm given that they’re playing (up to) five games in five days.
Plus, Floro has been really good this season.
Matt Borelli (@mcborelli):
Starting pitchers: Walker Buehler, Tony Gonsolin, Clayton Kershaw, Dustin May, Julio Urias
Relief pitchers: Pedro Baez, Dylan Floro, Victor Gonzalez, Brusdar Graterol, Kenley Jansen, Joe Kelly, Adam Kolarek, Jake McGee, Blake Treinen
Catchers: Austin Barnes, Keibert Ruiz, Will Smith
Infielders: Kiké Hernandez, Gavin Lux, Max Muncy, Edwin Rios, Corey Seager, Chris Taylor, Justin Turner
Outfielders: Cody Bellinger, Mookie Betts, Joc Pederson, AJ Pollock
For the best-of-five NLDS, I have the Dodgers carrying an extra reliever in Dylan Floro. He matches up well against a Padres lineup that is mostly right-handed heavy, and compiled three scoreless appearances against them during the regular season.
Like in the Wild Card Series, I believe the Dodgers’ roster will include three catchers. The presence of Ruiz will continue giving manager Dave Roberts the luxury of penciling Will Smith at DH in games where Barnes catches Kershaw.
Based off recent comments from Roberts, I also think the Dodgers will go with Lux over Beaty. Finally, I have Gore being dropped from the roster to make room for the extra pitcher in Floro.
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