Dodgers’ postseason roster prediction update

Last week, I attempted to predict the Dodger postseason roster. Dave Roberts confirmed some players over the weekend, but the full roster has yet to be disclosed. So, here’s an updated prediction of who might be on the roster for the National League Division Series.

Starting pitchers (3): Rich Hill, Clayton Kershaw, Kenta Maeda

Relief pitchers (9): Luis Avilan, Pedro Baez, Joe Blanton, Grant Dayton, Kenley Jansen, Adam Liberatore, Ross Stripling, Julio Urias, Alex Wood

Catchers (2): Yasmani Grandal, Carlos Ruiz

Infielders (5): Charlie Culberson, Adrian Gonzalez, Corey Seager, Justin Turner, Chase Utley

Outfielders (6): Andre Ethier, Howie Kendrick, Joc Pederson, Yasiel Puig, Josh Reddick, Andrew Toles

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Ethier, Toles and Urias were all confirmed by Roberts. Aside from them, everyone else on offense is a lock. Missing is Enrique Hernandez, and if you listen to the podcast later, I say Hernandez is almost a lock for the roster. But after thinking about it and seeing how badly he has struggled, I just don’t see how he makes it, especially with Culberson around to back up at shortstop and Ethier getting a roster spot (Toles can back up in center field). And how about Ethier getting a spot? Good for him. I just hope having him and Reddick on the roster isn’t too redundant.

In the bullpen, I’ve added Avilan to the mix, but he could be swapped out for a guy like Louis Coleman, Jose De Leon or Brock Stewart … or even a position player like Austin Barnes or Rob Segedin, depending how the team wants to handle the short series. The bullpen has five left-handed pitchers, but Urias is an option to start Game 4 in somewhat of a tandem act with Stripling. If the Dodgers are up 2-1 and they can get five quality innings out of the Urias/Stripling combo, that’d be a huge win for the Dodgers. That way, Kershaw wouldn’t be forced to go on short rest in Game 4 and would be on full rest for a potential Game 5. I could see a swap of Liberatore for J.P. Howell, but only if Liberatore isn’t healthy.

Brandon McCarthy pitched his way out of a potential spot this weekend, while Brett Anderson didn’t really impress much and doesn’t seem like a better left-handed option than any of the five guys I’m predicting on the roster.

J.P. Hoornstra participated in this exercise as well this morning. He wrote something that was extremely sad, yet true:

“Right now, Culberson is the Dodgers’ best right-handed hitting option off the bench.”

If you don’t count Puig and Ruiz (as he’s the only backup catcher on this postseason roster), then yes, this is accurate. Too bad Heranndez fell off a cliff and Scott Van Slyke‘s wrist needed to be repaired and Trayce Thompson broke his back.

Expect more players’ names to trickle out before the roster is officially announced, but I’d be surprised if there’s much deviation from what is written above.