Nationals go with 5 rookies on NLDS roster

Nationals go with 5 rookies on NLDS roster

Revere, Belisle, Petit among veterans who will not be active vs. Dodgers

October 7th, 2016

WASHINGTON -- The Nationals spent the past few weeks debating on which players would secure the final spots on their postseason roster, decisions manager Dusty Baker said would be some of the toughest of the year.
When Washington released its roster for the National League Division Series against the Dodgers -- which begins Friday (5:30 p.m. ET on FS1) at Nationals Park -- the Nationals decided to carry 11 pitchers and 14 position players. In many ways, they went with youth over veterans, electing to carry five rookies.
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Outfielder Michael Taylor, who had been battling a thumb injury recently, and rookie infielder will join , , and the other half of the / catching platoon to make up the Nationals' bench. Hard-throwing rookie right-hander will be the Nationals' long reliever to provide insurance with question marks surrounding left-hander , who will start Game 3, and potential Game 4 starter right-hander .
That meant the Nationals chose to leave off a few veterans who had been with the team since Opening Day, including outfielder and right-handers and .
The Nationals elected to carry three left-handers -- , and -- in their bullpen, because of the Dodgers' lefty-heavy lineup and their struggles against southpaws all season long. Los Angeles posted the lowest OPS in baseball against lefties in 2016.
"I don't think any roster is like completely the way you want it," Baker said last week. "But we're gonna try to get it as close as we can to fill as many holes or possibilities as we can."
PITCHERS (11)
Gio Gonzalez

Reynaldo Lopez

Oliver Perez

Joe Ross
Marc Rzepczynski

Sammy Solis

CATCHERS (2)
Jose Lobaton
Pedro Severino
INFIELDERS (7)
Wilmer Difo
Stephen Drew



Clint Robinson

OUTFIELDERS (5)

Chris Heisey
Michael A. Taylor