Dodgers Announce Wild Card Roster: Smith Returns, Kershaw Absent
The Los Angeles Dodgers have announced their roster for the wild-card series against the Cincinnati Reds. Notable inclusions and exclusions have been made, including the return of All-Star catcher Will Smith from injury and the absence of retiring pitcher Clayton Kershaw.
Smith, who batted .296 with 17 home runs and 61 RBIs this season, will be activated for the opener. He has been out since September 4 with a right hand injury, which was later diagnosed as a hairline fracture. In his absence, Hyeseong Kim has taken over the catcher position and will continue to do so in the playoffs. The Dodgers will have three catchers on their roster, including Ben Rortvedt and rookie Dalton Rushing.
The pitching staff includes 11 pitchers, with Blake Snell, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Shohei Ohtani lined up as starters. Emmet Sheehan and Tyler Glasnow are available out of the bullpen. Roki Sasaki, who returned from a shoulder injury, is also included in the bullpen. Kershaw, who announced his retirement, is not on the roster but will be added if the Dodgers advance. Left-handed reliever Anthony Banda, who made a team-high 71 appearances, was also left off the roster, but the Dodgers still have four lefties in the bullpen.
In the outfield, speedy outfielder Justin Dean was added to the roster, while veteran Michael Conforto was not included in the wild-card round roster.
The Dodgers' roster for the wild-card series reflects a balance of experience and youth, with key players returning from injury and others making way for new talent. The team is prepared to face the Reds in the first round, with a deep pitching staff and versatile lineup.
Read also:
- United States tariffs pose a threat to India, necessitating the recruitment of adept negotiators or strategists, similar to those who had influenced Trump's decisions.
- Weekly happenings in the German Federal Parliament (Bundestag)
- Southwest region's most popular posts, accompanied by an inquiry:
- Discussion between Putin and Trump in Alaska could potentially overshadow Ukraine's concerns
