The Dodgers and Mets have announced their 26-man rosters for the NLCS this afternoon. Dodgers shortstop Miguel Rojas was a notable omission from the L.A. roster, while Mets infielder Jeff McNeil is notably joining the club’s roster after a wrist fracture sidelined him throughout the final month of the regular season and the early part of the playoffs. Rojas was replaced on the club’s roster by outfielder Kevin Kiermaier, while right-hander Adam Ottavino was dropped from the Mets’ roster to accommodate McNeil. Left-hander Alex Vesia was also left off the Dodgers’ latest roster, with right-hander Brent Honeywell Jr. added to the roster as Vesia’s replacement. Rojas, Ottavino, and Vesia will be eligible for the club’s World Series roster because they were not removed from the roster mid-series.
Rojas departs the club’s postseason roster after suffering a partially torn adductor muscle late in the regular season. The 35-year-old veteran was able to rest up during the Wild Card Series, which the Dodgers did not participate in after capturing a bye through the first round, and participate in the NLDS against the Padres. He re-aggravated the injury while playing in the series, however, and appeared in just three of the five games while going 2-for-8 at the plate. While Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times notes that Rojas believes that he’s currently healthy enough to play, the Dodgers were evidently concerned that if Rojas aggravated the injury further he would be unavailable for the World Series in the event that the club advances. By leaving him off the NLCS roster entirely, the Dodgers hope to give Rojas the opportunity to rest up for the World Series.
With the Dodgers’ primary shortstop no longer available, Tommy Edman now figures to slide from center field to shortstop on a regular basis. That opens up center field for utility bat Enrique Hernandez, who impressed during the NLDS with a three-for-nine performance that included a home run. The strong showing added to Hernandez’s lengthy postseason resume, as he’s a career .277/.351/.548 hitter in 211 trips to the plate across 75 playoff games, 64 of which have come in a Dodgers uniform. Kevin Kiermaier and Andy Pages are both on the roster as potential backup options in center field should an injury occur, while Mookie Betts, Chris Taylor, and Hernandez himself all have experience at shortstop should a replacement for Edman be necessary at any point during the series.
While the Dodgers are losing a key member of their middle infield ahead of the series, the Mets are returning one of their own from the injured list in McNeil. The 32-year-old struggled through a second consecutive down season at the plate this year, posting just a .238/.308/.384 slash line (97 wRC+) in 128 games before going on the shelf due to a fractured wrist in early September. Five weeks after hitting the injured list, McNeil now returns to the roster to provide the Mets with a versatile lefty bat capable of slotting into second base, third base, and the outfield corners as needed. Journeyman Jose Iglesias has handled the keystone in McNeil’s absence but could take a seat on the bench for the NLCS after hitting just .207/.233/.207 in 30 trips to the plate across seven games this postseason. Rookie Luisangel Acuna is also on the postseason roster as a middle infield option but has primarily found usage as a defensive replacement to this point in the club’s playoff run.
The addition of McNeil’s lefty bat to the lineup could be particularly valuable for the Mets given the Dodgers’ loss of Vesia. Manager Dave Roberts told reporters yesterday that Vesia was unlikely to make the NLCS roster due to an intercostal injury, and that eventuality has now come to pass. While Roberts floated the possibility of right-hander Tony Gonsolin (who missed the entire 2024 regular season while rehabbing Tommy John surgery) replacing Vesia on the club’s NLCS roster, it seems that L.A. ultimately decided to turn to Honeywell rather than lean on Gonsolin to get postseason outs in his first big league appearance in over a year. The 29-year-old Honeywell has posted a solid 2.63 ERA in 37 2/3 innings of work for the Pirates and Dodgers this year despite a lackluster 4.28 FIP and figures to provide L.A. with a much-needed multi-inning option as the club weighs the possibility of multiple bullpen games during the course of the seven-game series.
Ki-ke Hernandez has 14 post season home runs, more than Freeman (10), Betts (6), or Alonso (4).
Or Lindor (7). More than makes up for his postgame media interview etiquette.
Is this live? We don’t give a f….
It’s incredible how he turns it on in the post season
KIKE Hernandez also has 14 more POSTSEASON home runs than hyphens (0) in his name.
Evening, baron, liberal use of capital letters there, don’t you think?
Careful throwing bricks in glass houses as you are technically only spelling his first name correctly with an accent on the last “e”. Hoisted by your own petard?
Equally important, the site used to censor his name spelled properly because, as you know, without the accent, it is spelled the same as what some consider to be an ethnic slur.
With an accent it is pronounced key-kay, rather rhyming with bike.
But it is spelled KIKE. Caps used for instructional purposes only.
Enjoy the game, it is starting now.
Kike!!!!
I bet you a giver that Alex Vesia hurt himself while gyrating and emoting after his inning-ending strikeout Friday night. He was supposed to pitch the next inning, but couldn’t.
That guy is so cringe. Fake emotion, like the rest of the team.
How’s your team doing Neon you nihilistic troll
Why are you following me around the site? It’s getting creepy.
Creepy is your middle name. And as for being here for no good reason that defines you troll.
Stalker vibes — scary. Gotta block you.
Haa more like neon crap!!
You’re so right. It sums up the fakeness of that city and the animals that make up their fanbase. I wanted so badly for the Pads to close them out and close down Dodger Stadium Zoo for the season. New York and most of the East Coast and Midwest cities actually have a genuine connection and sense of community tied to their sports teams (although NY is massive so a little like LA in that regard). It’s so much more exciting to see postseason baseball in places like Cleveland and Detroit, you got the classic Fall weather and hungry and passionate fanbases. Scrappy teams that DON’T spend $700M on superstars.
3 million 900,000 “fake fans” averaging over 48,000 for EVERY LAD home game. Leading the majors in road attendance in EVERY city they play in. Explain that. What you could you possibly know about a sense of community Mickey? What sensible community would have you as a member?
Watching Mojo come unglued over basic facts is hilarious. This guy is NUTS.
well done on blocking me hypocrite. having negative trolls like you inserting vitriol here is poisonous. you and Mickey Solis are two peas in a pod.
Too amusing to watch you lose your mind over meaningless things. Seek help, truly.
Guy complaining about “vitriol” while wishing death on people. LOL. Funniest comment in weeks.
You are certainly no qualified arbiter of what is or isn’t meaningless. I answer every stupid, negative post you put up purely for effect as all trolls do. And will continue to do so. It is wholly enjoyable and you deserve it.
I admit that was over the top on my part. Uncalled for.
Neon
Almost as nuts as you are going to get seeing the Dodgers back in the World Series, receiving accolades from many.
Every major team has a few fans that are really bad eggs. The couple fans who assaulted the Giants’ fan were evil. But judging a city based on a couple people would condemn every city.
Mickey Solis: We get plenty excited to see postseason baseball here in NYC.
Try to know what you’re talking about.
With that many people in the metropolitan area you’ll find people dumb enough to overpay for seats so they can throw things at the opposing team and get into fights outside the stadium. LA is a bunch of transplants and first-generation residents. In fairness most big cities are. No one besides LA phonies and people who grew up rooting for the Dodgers because their dads liked them in Brooklyn wants to see this Evil Empire team who tries to buy its titles end up in the World Series. Any time they fall short in October it’s the ultimate schadenfreude for the rest of the baseball-loving world.
Actually, the vast majority of fans don’t throw stuff or get into fights.
Those who do are just a few young 20-somethings who get drunk and act like idiots. And it happens just as much in every city of any size.
It’s ignorant on your part to assume that all fans in any city are alike.
Kopech got lucky he didn’t hurt himself with his celebration. You would think the dodgers would know the potential loss of celebrating better than anyone. Excuse me the Mets also.
Steve
They took him out mid-inning
lmao, I know that’s not Padres fans in a Dodgers NLCS article talking about celebrating too much. Surely, you can’t be serious?
Padres players get a single and they’re flipping bats
I was rooting for the Dodgers but I am all for letting guys like Tatis have some fun. I would much rather have players invested in the outcome than collect their paycheck caring less as to what happens. Padres and Dodgers were in my book two of three best NL teams and the series was awesome, both teams played hard and well.
The D’Backs were probably 3rd or 4th as well. They had an even better offense than the Dodgers.
I won’t be impressed unless you bet me a liver. Or maybe a river.
I think there is a VERY GOOD chance the LAD will use Ohtani as a pitcher in the NLCS not necessarily as a starter
No chance whatsoever.
Beware the flying squirrel. That is all.
Bummer as Miggy Ro’s been one of the unsung heroes of the team..
Although Miggy hitting into a triple play was arguably the top highlight of the Padres’ fine season
I am hoping for Mets and Cleveland with Cleveland winning it all.
Gound control to Major Merc. Make sure you don’t put much $$$ on that bet!
Thank heavens Chris Taylor made the roster. Need his…his….ugh.
He’s beyond reproach as my all time most hated Dodger, regardless of how useful he isn’t.
Hall
Need his nine post season home runs?
Homer in 2020 WS, how about three in a single NLCS game against Atlanta in October 2021.
I don’t watch Fox often, but when I do, it must be time for postseason baseball.
When he comes up with a big hit this season, let me know.
It’s pretty amazing the Dodgers have advanced this far having lost two full pitching rotations to injuries and are operating on their third. It would be awfully embarrassing to the rest of the league if the Dodgers somehow figure out a way to win the championship.
Not really. It will just show that elite hitters and a solid bullpen can sometimes overcome a lack of starting pitching.
It would just further the argument as to how baseball has morphed/will continue to evolve and how there is more than one way to a hunk of metal.
MiggyRo has had a helluva season. If he could, he would be out there and would be happy to have him in the lineup.
yeah i feel a little bad but w Edman and playoff Kike around i doubt he’s going to be back this year and probably not next.
Where’s blue skies know it all at?