The Dodgers-projected postseason list has already taken shape: Orange County Register

LOS ANGELES – Now that the Dodgers have secured a postseason spot, it’s common to see their remaining games of the regular season as an opportunity to refine the roles on the roster with a look toward October.

Throw this custom out the window.

The Dodgers ’initial training, rotation, closer and set-up roles are almost reduced. His injured list has been reduced to a player who would return by the end of the season, outfielder AJ Pollock. The question of who will make the Dodgers ’26-man postseason list offers less suspense than their pursuit of the San Francisco Giants.

“I think we have a lot of good options,” manager Dave Roberts said. “I guess it’s fun to talk about it. It’s always about the additional bench player, the relay (pitchers), of how you’re going to do it. ”

If Pollock returns by the end of next week as expected, the Dodgers have five clear candidates to fill their bench.

Receiver Austin Barnes and first baseman Albert Pujols are skilled players. Cody Bellinger and Gavin Lux have skillfully filled the field away from home, possibly doing enough offensively to start against right-handed pitchers once Pollock and Chris Taylor return from their respective injuries. If the Dodgers choose to keep a fifth player on their bench, Matt Beaty will be that player.

Walker Buehler or Max Scherzer will start the first game of the postseason. Clayton Kershaw – if he continues his progress after an elbow injury – and Julio Urías would continue in a series of seven games.

Blake Treinen has been Kenley Jansen’s best male coach since Brandon Morrow in 2017. Joe Kelly is not far behind in the bullpen depth chart. Alex Vesia has become Roberts ’main pick against left-handed batsmen in high play and final leverage situations. Phil Bickford is the best of Andrew Friedman’s many bullpen acquisitions.

Corey Knebel, David Price, Brusdar Graterol and Tony Gonsolin have experience throwing themselves out of the bullring in the postseason. All four can get it if the Dodgers choose to keep 13 pitchers on staff.

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Taylor was available on the bench for the first time since injuring his neck in last Friday’s win against the San Diego Padres. Taylor is likely to be on the ten-day injury list if his neck had not improved.

Taylor and Pollock participated in the pre-field batting practice. Pollock, who is expected to play minor league rehab games in Arizona starting next Monday, is a week or ten days away from joining the major league team, Roberts said.

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The Cincinnati Reds are among a handful of teams the Dodgers could find in a potential National League wildcard game if they fail to win the division. Roberts chose not to mix his rotation to hide Buehler or Scherzer, one of whom would start the playoffs in a match.