Let’s Guess the Dodgers Playoff Roster

By Tim Morris
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Updated: October 3, 2016

With the playoffs days away and the 25 players not announced yet let’s have some fun and try to take a peek into the mind of manager Dave Roberts and the Dodgers front office shall we?

Now, in the past 3 years Dodgers NLDS roster has shaped up like this

2015: 14 Position, 11 Pitchers (6 OF, 6 IF, 2 C, 4 SP, 7 RP) – Lost NLDS
2014: 13 Position, 12 Pitchers (5 OF, 6 IF, 2 C, 4 SP, 8 RP) – Lost NLDS
2013: 14 Position, 11 Pitchers (5 OF, 7 IF, 2 C, 4 SP, 7 RP) – Won NLDS

So in my infinite wisdom, I am going to predict that the Dodgers will field 14 Position Players and 11 Pitchers, let’s see how that shakes out.

The Obvious and Already Announced:
Starters: Yasmani Grandal, Adrian Gonzalez, Chase Utley, Justin Turner, Corey Seager, Howie Kendrick, Joc Pederson, Josh Reddick

Bench: Andrew Toles, Andre Ethier, Yasiel Puig, Carlos Ruiz

Rotation: Clayton Kershaw, Rich Hill, Kenta Maeda

Bullpen: Kenley Jansen, Joe Blanton, Alex Wood

Unknown: Julio Urias

That’s 12 position players and 7 pitchers, leaving us with 6 spots left, let’s see if we can fill ’em.

I’m going to assume that Roberts is going to carry someone who can play the infield and that choice is going to be between Enrique Hernandez, Rob Segedin and Charlie Culberson, he of walk-off home-run fame.

This season Hernandez has played 2B/3B/SS/LF/CF/RF, Culberson 2B/3B/SS/LF and Segedin has played 1B/3B/LF and RF. Culberson is the better defender and has played more 2B and SS than Hernandez so I can see him making it over Hernandez if Doc wants to go with 13 but since I think they will carry 14 position players then I see Hernandez making the roster over Segedin who hasn’t hit well and isn’t as versitile as either Culberson or Hernandez

So let’s update the bench:

Bench – Andrew Toles, Andre Ethier, Yasiel Puig, Carlos Ruiz, Enrique Hernandez, Charlie Culberson

Next are the starters; Kershaw, Hill and Maeda are the obvious ones but we don’t know if Roberts will go with a 4th starter or if he’ll need one, let’s hope he doesn’t need one but if he does I think he’ll surprise us and Urias will be called to pitch game 4 rather than pitch Kershaw on short rest this time like Don Mattingly has done in previous seasons. So let’s update that list

Rotation – Clayton Kershaw, Rich Hill, Kenta Maeda, Julio Urias (Maybe)

Now, the bullpen is interesting, there are two obvious players (Jansen and Blanton) and one who has been named (Wood) after that it’s up in the air, so let’s give this a shot.

The Obvious and Named:
Kenley Jansen, Joe Blanton, Pedro Baez, Grant Dayton and Alex Wood

Jansen and Blanton are obvious, unless hurt they will make the roster. Alex Wood has practically been named by both management and Roberts that he will be on the roster so those are pretty much locks.

Baez has been great since coming back from AAA, in 11.2 innings pitched he has 0 earned runs and has only surrendered 1 inherited runner.

Dayton has been lights out all season with a few hiccups but mainly has been death to all he sees striking out 38% of all batters he sees so I definiately see him on the roster.

To recap, that’s 14 position players, 3 + 1 starters and 5 pitchers out the bullpen, leaving us with 2 more relievers to fill out the bullpen with and one other possible pitcher if Doc goes with 13 position and 12 pitchers.

Possible Bullpen: Jesse Chavez, Luis Avilan/Adam Liberatore and Josh Fields/Brandon McCarthy

I’m pretty certain Chavez makes it and Roberts will probably add one more LHP out of either Avilan and Liberatore but I think if he carries another, it will be a RHP and it could either be McCarthy to serve as long man/possible 4th starter or Fields who has been good in low to medium leverage situations but has given up too many inherited runners for my taste (17 total since coming to the Dodgers and only 6 earned runs for himself).

It’s the weak latter half of the Dodgers bullpen is why I feel they will go with 14 position players and 11 pitchers, while it would be great to have that extra option with a 12th pitcher, the drop off in effectiveness is high enough that it makes me uncomfortable.

So let’s update the bullpen

Bullpen – Kenley Jansen, Joe Blanton, Alex Wood, Pedro Baez, Grant Dayton, Jesse Chavez, Luis Avilan

I had a hard time picking between Avilan and Libetore, if Liberatore were pitching like he did earlier in the season he’s the easy choice but he really hasn’t been while Luis Avilan has been pretty good but he’s been a lot better than Liberatore so that’s my choice.

So the final list is:
Starters: Yasmani Grandal (C), Adrian Gonzalez (1B), Chase Utley (2B), Justin Turner (3B), Corey Seager (SS), Howie Kendrick (LF), Joc Pederson (CF), Josh Reddick (RF)

Bench: Andrew Toles (OF), Andre Ethier (LF/RF), Yasiel Puig (OF), Charles Culberson (IF), Enrique Hernandez (IF/OF)

Rotation: Clayton Kershaw, Rich Hill, Kenta Maeda, Julio Urias (if needed)

Bullpen: Kenley Jansen (RHP), Joe Blanton (RHP), Grant Dayton (LHP), Pedro Baez (RHP), Luis Avila (LHP), Jesse Chavez (RHP), Alex Wood (LHP)

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