LOS ANGELES — As the Dodgers prepare to fly to Milwaukee for the National League Championship Series against the Brewers, Miguel Rojas’ status remains an open question.
Rojas, who missed Game 4 of the NLDS against the Braves after exiting Game 3 with lower left back and hip discomfort, underwent imaging. While manager Dave Roberts called the initial results encouraging, the team is taking a wait-and-see approach ahead of Game 1 Sunday.
"Today was encouraging. He had imaging, and a lot of it was kind of stuff that he has had prior history," Roberts said during a Zoom press conference on Friday. "So we still got a flight to get on. [So we’ll] see how he comes in tomorrow for the workout there. So there's nothing definitive, but I will say today was a step in the right direction. He took ground balls and took a couple rounds of BP. So that was good to see."
The 37-year-old infielder sustained the injury during a fifth-inning defensive play when he slipped fielding a Ronald Acuña Jr. grounder. Though he pushed through two more innings defensively, he aggravated the lower back tightness during an eighth-inning at-bat and was lifted mid-plate appearance.
With no strict roster deadline pressing before Sunday, Roberts emphasized that the organization plans to utilize every available hour before finalizing the decision.
"He's had treatment, I think probably as we speak. He's in the training room right now before they get on the plane," Roberts noted. "I just think that there's no upside in announcing [our decision] yet when we still have a flight. There's another workout and there's no deadline right now. We're not up against it, so we have time to ultimately make that decision."
Regardless of Rojas’ ultimate availability, the Dodgers’ NLCS roster will undergo at least one definitive structural change. Roberts confirmed that Los Angeles intends to add a 13th pitcher for the longer seven-game series, meaning a position player from the 14-man NLDS bench will be removed.
If Rojas is deemed healthy enough to be included on the roster -- even if held out of early starting lineups -- it creates a domino effect for the remaining reserves. Should Rojas require additional rest, utility options Tommy Edman and Kiké Hernández can provide infield coverage.
However, carrying a compromised Rojas while dropping a position player tightens the bench flexibility. Infielder Hyeseong Kim and rookie outfielder Josue De Paula (the Dodgers' top prospect) could emerge as the primary candidates for that potential roster spot reduction.
While Kim brings experience and infield depth if Rojas is limited, De Paula made a compelling case for himself in Game 4. Called upon to pinch-hit in the seventh inning, the 21-year-old showed patience in a high-leverage moment, working a 3-1 walk against Braves reliever Didier Fuentes to keep the line moving -- helping set up Andy Pages’ go-ahead two-run single.
If Rojas is cleared, the Dodgers would have to decide between Kim's experience and middle-infield coverage or the potential value De Paula brings off the bench.
However, as Roberts noted on Friday, that decision ultimately comes back to calculating the risk of carrying an infielder who isn't at 100 percent.
"You just got to be certain that if we do have [Rojas] on, he can stay healthy so you don't lose him for the potential World Series," Roberts said. "We certainly have a couple of other good options if it doesn't happen and he can't post. But like I said, I'm encouraged again with what I saw today."