MILWAUKEE -- The Dodgers added a 13th pitcher while setting their 26-man roster for the NL Championship Series ahead of Game 1 on Sunday night at American Family Field. Left-hander Justin Wrobleski joined the bullpen, while speed option Hyeseong Kim was left off the roster.
As expected, Miguel Rojas (lower back pain) was included on the roster after coming away feeling good from post-NLDS workouts and the air travel to Milwaukee.
Heading into the best-of-seven NLCS, manager Dave Roberts said the Dodgers were looking to add another pitcher for more coverage. Wrobleski, who was a first-time All-Star this year, was one of the logical choices. He got some experience in short-burst relief last year, but he's still stretched out to cover multiple innings if necessary.
Kim was the odd man out to make room for Wrobleski on the active roster. Kim made the NLDS roster for his speed, but the Dodgers did not end up using him as a pinch-runner. His lone appearance last series was as a defensive replacement as a ripple effect of the injury to Rojas.
The last two position players on the bench were Kim and Josue De Paula, L.A.'s top prospect (No. 4 overall, per MLB Pipeline). De Paula, like Kim, has a singular purpose: He is the primary lefty bat off the bench, and he will not be called on to play the field unless absolutely necessary. De Paula drew a pinch-hit walk in the rally that set up Andy Pages' go-ahead single in NLDS Game 4, and given the consistent quality of his at-bats, it made more sense for the Dodgers to keep him for the NLCS.
Here's the full 26-man roster:
Catchers (2): Will Smith, Hunter Feduccia
First baseman (1): Freddie Freeman
Second baseman (1): Tommy Edman
Shortstop (1): Mookie Betts
Third baseman (1): Max Muncy
Outfielders (3): Teoscar Hernández, Andy Pages, Kyle Tucker
Utility/bench (3): Kiké Hernández, Miguel Rojas, Josue De Paula
Two-way player (1): Shohei Ohtani
Starters (4): Tarik Skubal, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow
Relievers (9): Edwin Díaz, Tanner Scott, Edgardo Henriquez, Alex Vesia, Evan Phillips, Roki Sasaki, Kris Bubic, Brock Stewart, Justin Wrobleski