Will De Paula make NLDS roster? What are the Dodgers' postseason bullpen plans?

MLB.com Dodgers beat reporter Sonja Chen took questions from fans in an r/Dodgers AMA on Tuesday. The full conversation can be viewed here, but below is a sampling of the best questions and answers, lightly edited for clarity.

To fill out the postseason roster, who has the edge, Josue De Paula or Hyeseong Kim? I think JDP is flashy, but in a pinch HSK can at least play defense.

My thought is that both De Paula and Kim actually have a good chance of making the NLDS roster, when the Dodgers might choose to carry 14 position players and 12 pitchers. De Paula has turned himself into arguably the best option to pinch-hit -- at least when it comes to getting on base -- but you can't discount how important it is to have a speed/defense option on the bench.

So I could see the Dodgers getting a look at both of those guys in the NLDS, and if they advance, then they would probably carry a 13th pitcher moving forward and have to choose between De Paula and Kim on the bench.

Which situations do you see JDP playing in a postseason game?

The Dodgers are viewing De Paula strictly as a hitter for now, so he would be the primary lefty bat off the bench. There is the question of who he would pinch-hit for -- which is mostly situational, but also logistical, because someone else on the bench would need to replace him in the field afterward.

Of course, De Paula is capable of playing the corner outfield, but we only saw him play six innings in left as a Dodger. And given how important defense is in the postseason, I doubt we will see him in the field unless it's an emergency.

With Blake Treinen ruled out for the rest of the season, who do you think is expected to take his spot on the postseason roster?

Here's my projection for the postseason bullpen (operating under the assumption that they'll carry eight relievers in the NLDS and add a ninth if they advance): Edwin Díaz, Tanner Scott, Edgardo Henriquez, Roki Sasaki, Alex Vesia, Evan Phillips, Brock Stewart, Kris Bubic.

There's no way to do this without leaving out some good options, which is a great problem for the Dodgers to have. I think they could consider adding a fourth lefty for the NLDS (Justin Wrobleski or Jack Dreyer) depending on the opponent. They're lacking a real length option in my projection, but I think that could be workable for the NLDS, and if they make it to the NLCS, then perhaps they add Emmet Sheehan to the 'pen.

How do the players prepare for the postseason during the bye week?

One of the most important things during the bye is finding ways to simulate game action, so there will be plenty of live batting practice and hitting off the Trajekt machine, etc. There will also probably be some more formal simulated games. And for some players, using these days for rest is also very important -- I'd put Shohei Ohtani and Freddie Freeman in that bucket. So it's a balance between staying in game shape while also getting reset for what they hope will be a long month ahead.

Are the boys spending the bye week together like they have in years past?

They will be together for much of this week, and they have talked about how using this time to come together is important for setting the tone for the rest of their postseason run. They figured out how to carry momentum through the bye in 2024, and I know they're drawing on that experience for this year.