The Dodgers have announced the 10 pitchers and 16 position players that will comprise the roster for their wild card game with the Cardinals tonight. Max Scherzer will make his first postseason start in a Dodgers uniform.
Left-handed pitchers
Right-handed pitchers
- Phil Bickford
- Tony Gonsolin
- Brusdar Graterol
- Kenley Jansen
- Joe Kelly
- Corey Knebel
- Max Scherzer
- Blake Treinen
Catchers
Infielders
Outfielders
The injured Clayton Kershaw is of course prominent in his absence, and Walker Buehler and David Price are two other prominent arms absent from this hitter-heavy roster. Buehler is being lined up to start Game One of the NLDS should the Dodgers advance. With “only” 10 pitchers available, Los Angeles is counting on Scherzer to throw another gem, with Urias and Gonsolin on hand to provide depth if Scherzer falters.
With so many multi-position utility types on the roster, normal “infield/outfield” designations don’t mean as much for the likes of Taylor, McKinstry, Beaty, or even Lux. The Dodgers are aiming to give manager Dave Roberts as much flexibility as possible in playing the matchups against St. Louis starter Adam Wainwright and the Cardinals bullpen. The Dodgers’ position player mix is also missing a key name due to a recent injury, as Max Muncy’s dislocated elbow will keep him out of at least the wild card game, though Roberts hasn’t closed the door on Muncy returning if L.A. gets deep enough into the postseason.
I’m going to be at the Ravine for this one. I put an extra dose of antacids on my roster.
Love this time of year, and also hate it. I have a really good feeling that the Dodgers pounce on Wainwright real early. The Dodgers have been pounding the ball of semi decent pitchers on better teams of late.
I sure hope you’re right. I’ve already witnessed too many elimination games.
Hoping Seager stays on fire and provides production similar to last postseason. Surprised that they opted for three dead bats in Raley, Souza and McKinney, and one semi-dead bat in McKinstry. Guessing that Roberts may pinch hit Bellinger late in the game with a righty bat like Pujols and may need a defensive sub which will require some shifting. Maybe Betts to CF and McKinney to RF. The PH Bellinger call is a tough call if you’re even or leading but necessary if trailing. Raley and McKinney seem redundant although maybe the latter can play some 1B.
Kind of shows you that there are quite a few bullpen arms that Roberts doesn’t really trust such as Price. He may need to lean on the starters longer during the playoffs, which is tough because each AB is so mentally grueling for the pitchers.
Was there myself last night and it was a great game and atmosphere. Scherzer lacked his usual command and walked quite a few batters, hit one and wild pitched a run, and didn’t really put away batters the way he usually does with 2 strikes. Even without his best stuff he battled and did enough to keep the Dodgers in the game. Cards were smart and aggressive on the base paths, which is a huge weakness for the Dodgers, but they couldn’t get the key hit with men in scoring position. Credit the Dodger pitchers for battling and coming up with big pitches in pressure situations.
When Lux was announced as PH in bottom of 9th and then Cards countered with lefty reliever you just knew Pujols was going to come in as a PH and he did and the crowd went nuts. He crushed that ball to Bader but instead of carrying it just knuckled and died. Would have been a story-ending finish if he walked off but I’ll take Taylor’s walk-off.
I’ve been to a lot of postseason games but nothing quite like this one. I’m not sure what it was, but the place was electric last night. Yeah, with Pujols coming up in that situation I’m thinking the same thing as I’m sure 50k others in the house were. Close, but no storybook ending for him. It was CT’s moment.
That dodgers roster looks a lot thinner than the last few years, especially offensively.
go on . . .
Without Muncy and with Belly as a question this lineup doesn’t strike fear like it has most recent seasons. And the numbers off the bench are very uninspiring.
Not trying to hate, just observing.
Bellinger isn’t even a question. He flat-out cannot hit. A .542 OPS? If he plays, Dodgers are in trouble.
RD you don’t think that Trea Turner more than made up for Bellinger?
I think Bellinger will start to hit better, but he makes up for it by being an excellent defensive CF. Probably the best overall with Chris Taylor close second. I like Gavin Lux, but not confident in his ability to play outfield for the postseason this year at least.
Or Muncy, but not both. Honestly I think the Dodgers could really use Kike about now.
He’s starting at CF and batting eighth. Taylor has been slumping and now that Muncy is out you need another power lefty bat to go with Seager. Dodgers are so right handed bat dominated right now. Seager has to carry that load. I’d guess that Bellinger sits against lefties but who knows right now.
I would have preferred Trea Turner batting second today and Seager batting third to give two speedsters at top of lineup and make only three right handed bats in a row instead of fourth. Both hitters are very hot right now.
Bellinger is starting in center.
Lord forbid, he is useless
Bellinger was the absolute best hitter a year or two ago, so what has changed?
Injuries (shoulder and ribs), and most of his production in 2018 was in the 1st 3 months. With his upright stance and long swing, he’l always be prone to big power but a low BA. But he can play CF and 1B as good as anyone.
@bazbal
This comment aged poorly after Bellinger got on base 3 times, stole 2 bases, and scored the winning run.
Just goes to show ya, in baseball yesterday doesn’t matter.
Yet they won 106 games
Yea fred 106 wins and bd the troll bitches
what positive value does Souza provide at this point in his career?
Brawl body
Double switch in late innings and one extra bench bat.
He is a good batter if the game goes really on way too long. Also, good depth just in case of injury.
Her job’s tables!
You gotta know how to treat the talent Julie.
I found it interesting that they had Betts play a little 2B against the Brewers on the last day.
I would probably have one more starter on the roster for the possibility of a 17 inning game. I know they are saving Buehler for Game 1, but it will be horrible if it’s 2-2 in the 14th and they don’t have Buehler ready to give them 3 innings.
Three starting pitchers isn’t enough? Okay
They aren’t putting Walker out there on 2 days rest amigo
FYI: Betts has played 2B in multiple games. In the summer, it was partly to give his hip injury some rest. He played a small handful of games at 2B this season.
Dodgers definitely taking risks should this game go to extra innings. They really should have put Buehler on the roster just in case
He pitched Sunday, its only Wednesday – Everything’s a risk, id rather not risk our Ace’s long term health
I think a big part of that gamble is the results of the last time Scherzer faced the Cards….8 IP, 13 K, 1 ER. The last time Waino faced LAD, 4 ER in 8.1 IP while also earning a win.
A big wild card in the Wild Card game is how effective Dodger hitters handle Waino’s breaking balls. They haven’t done well against breaking pitches this season. If Mad Max pitches to his abilities, the game will mostly about how LAD control the strike zone and hit Waino’s offspeed pitches.
Wondering what roberts excuse will be when he poorly manages this team again per usual and they get knocked out early after 106 wins.
@Tatsumaki….and what will your excuse be when typing (again) without thinking makes you look silly (again)?
I love how you mention 106 wins in the same breath as “poorly manage again”. Those things are mutually exclusive. I know you’ll be missing in action when he poorly manages the team to win today’s game. Or you’ll find a way to still put him down even if they win.
106 winless with 10 all stars and depth and cash behind him. Lol said it the other day any one could manage this team to 106 wins. Anyone. Winning in the postseason is the bigger deal and so far roberts is 1-7
You think Robert’s is 1-7 in the playoffs? No wonder no one respects your opinion
The best talent doesn’t always win, remember that.
A year ago everyone hated Kapler in Philly. Look what he did now.
If Dave Robert’s ran into a burning house and saved a whole family I suspect you’d be asking why didn’t he stop the fire from happening in the first place. Some people just can’t be pleased.
Says the resounding troll no one respect ironic. It’s been so long dealing with consistently losing, but your right it’s 2016 not 2014 so 1-5 overall and 1-3 in World Series. Despite! having loaded rosters and highest payroll yearly….yikes
I will never understand people who count only World Series wins as a success and anything else as a failure. You make it sound like having a great team gives them some crazy amount of advantage. There are 30 teams so let’s start with a 3.3% chance and then let’s double it to account for the fact that half the league really can’t compete in a given year. That’s 6.6%. Let’s be generous and say that they are so good that it’s almost guaranteed that they at least make it to the playoffs so let’s up it to 12.5% chance in a given year. That would imply in an 8 year stretch we would make it to the World Series 2 times and win once. We’ve made it 3 out of 4 and won once. If your expectations are higher than that then it says more about you than the actual team and management by Dave Roberts.
When you have 10 allstars (exaggerating so guys like McCourt don’t flip out) and a wealth of both scouting and farm hands yes you should be critical of your team. Simply just getting to postseason is not good enough. It’s not something I’d pride myself on while having the largest payroll…that becomes a formality of making postseason. If your not winning it all with that roster your a bum, point blank period.
Tatsumaki, you forgot to click like on your comment. You are the type that only ever gets love from yourself.
@Tatsumaki, you forgot to click like on your comment. You are the type that only ever gets love from yourself.
Tatsumaki with another hot take lmao
LAD had half a 40 man roster that’s home grown win a title, then won 106 games while everyone proclaimed they were one of the biggest underperforming teams in baseball. And just an as extra F you to the Dodgers, they won’t get home field if they advance to the LCS even though they will have had the better record by 18 and 11 games, for Mil and Atl respectively
The last 2 months, they played at nearly a 130 win pace. What more did you want going into October? And unlike you, I’m not exaggerating to make my point. That’s all actually true. If you argue with facts, it makes your point stronger
I can feel that anger, some people are never satisfied. Make up more excuses feel free,
Seems like an ideal situation for a third catcher, just in case, instead of a throw-in like Souza. If this game goes into extra innings which would you rather have, an emergency catcher or a random strike out waiting to happen?
Kenley is the emergency catcher.
They don’t really have a third catcher since trading Ruiz.
Kenley.
C’mon now Kenley hasn’t played catcher in years. I doubt he can even crouch down. I’d guess that they have an emergency catcher, probably someone like McKinstry or Beaty.
Wouldn’t it be sweet if both the Yankees and Dodgers lost in the Wild Card games?
Sorry to be a hater. Just saying.
-Signed a lowly depressed Diamondbacks fan
Which team will beat the Dodgers for the NLW crown next year?
Won’t be Diamondbacks, thats all that matters.
The Kamikazi Toads
BTW, have the Dodgers found a pitcher to replace Trevor Bauer as Starter/DF?
Huh? Did you not know that Scherzer is a Dodger now?
His name is Max scherzer and he’s playing tonight you might have heard of him he came up through Arizona’s minors lol. In typical dbacks fashion you traded him for a bag of balls and the rest is history
A little surprised David Price isn’t on the roster. Doesn’t really matter – guessing he is on the NLDS roster if they win.
Surprised that Price not on roster but just shows you that Roberts doesn’t really fully trust him in an elimination game. He’s been hit very hard at times this season. That said, I would have kept him over someone like Raley or McKinney just in case you go deep in extra innings. I’d think that Price is a slam dunk for NLDS but only really pitches in mop up type or running out of pitchers extra innings type of scenarios.
Dodgers are great. There is probably not a better run team in baseball.
Win or lose tonights game is only one game. It doesn’t change anything. Any team can lose in a short series.
Does anyone think the 1988 Dodgers were better than the A’s?
It’s baseball.
There’s actually a bunch of people who post here who don’t understand the playoffs are a crapshoot and probably believe the 88 dodgers were the better team than the A’s.
More than the other sports. I’d agree. That’s why wild card teams have won the WS and why you play seven game series. Football is less random but playing one game and getting eliminated makes it a bit more random. Even the good teams lose about 60+ games or so during the season. But the Dodgers were by far the better than the A’s when it mattered most.