NLCS roster notes: Rojas, McNeil, Vesia

The Dodgers and Mets announced their 26-man rosters for the NLCS this afternoon. Dodgers shortstop Miguel Rojas was a notable omission from LA's roster while he was an infielder for the Mets Jeff McNeil Notably, he joins the club's roster after being sidelined by a broken wrist during the final month of the regular season and the start of the playoffs. Rojas was replaced on the club's roster by an outfielder Kevin Kiermaierwhile right-handed Adam Ottavino was cut from the Mets' roster to accommodate McNeil. Left-handed Alex Vesia Right-handed hitter was also left off the Dodgers' current roster Brent Honeywell Jr. added to the squad as a replacement for Vesia. Rojas, Ottavino and Vesia are eligible for the club's World Series squad because they were not cut from the roster midway through the series.

Rojas left the club's postseason roster after suffering a partial adductor tear near the end of the regular season. The 35-year-old veteran was able to rest during the Wild Card Series, which the Dodgers did not participate in after a first-round bye, and participate in the NLDS against the Padres. However, while playing in the series, he re-aggravated his injury and only appeared in 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 he is currently healthy enough to play, the Dodgers were apparently concerned that if the club were to advance to the World Series, Rojas would not be eligible if his injury aggravated further would be available. By cutting him from the NLCS roster entirely, the Dodgers hope to give Rojas a chance to rest for the World Series.

With the Dodgers' primary shortstop no longer available, Tommy Edman Now the numbers regularly slide from center field to shortstop. This opens up the middle of the field for the utility hitter Enrique Hernándezwho impressed during the NLDS with a three-for-nine performance that included a home run. The strong performance added to Hernandez's long postseason resume, as he is a career .277/.351/.548 hitter in 211 appearances in 75 playoff games, 64 of which came in a Dodgers uniform. Kevin Kiermaier and Andy Pages Both are in the squad as possible replacements in midfield should an injury occur Mookie Betts, Chris Taylorand Hernandez himself all have experience as a shortstop should a replacement for Edman be necessary at any point in the series.

While the Dodgers lose a key member of their middle infield before the series, the Mets return one of their own players from the injured list in McNeil. The 32-year-old struggled through a second straight season at the plate this year, posting just a .238/.308/.384 slash line (97 wRC+) in 128 games before being forced out due to a broken wrist in early September . Five weeks after being placed on the injured list, McNeil now returns to the roster to provide the Mets with a versatile left-handed hitter who can slot into second base, third base and the outfield corners as needed. journeyman Jose Iglesias has manned the keystone role in McNeil's absence but could end up on the bench for the NLCS after hitting just .207/.233/.207 in seven games in 30 appearances this postseason. beginner Luisangel Acuna is also on the squad as a midfielder after the season, but up to this point has been used primarily as a defensive substitute in the club's playoffs.

Adding 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 the possibility has now occurred. While Roberts considered the possibility of a right-hander Tony Gonsolin (who missed the entire 2024 regular season while undergoing Tommy John rehab surgery) and replaced Vesia on the club's NLCS squad, it appears that LA ultimately decided to turn to Honeywell instead of themselves relying on Gonsolin to postseason strikeouts in his first major league appearance in over a year. The 29-year-old Honeywell has posted a solid 2.63 ERA in 37 2/3 innings for the Pirates and Dodgers this year, despite a weak 4.28 FIP and numbers that give LA as a club a much-needed multi-inning -Offer option weighs the possibility of multiple bullpen games over the course of the seven-game series.