MILWAUKEE -- The Dodgers came out of the NL Division Series with some uncertainty regarding the status of Miguel Rojas, but the veteran infielder was announced as part of the roster for the NL Championship Series against the Brewers, as manager Dave Roberts said would likely be the case.
"I'm expecting him to be a part of it, be on the roster," Roberts said on Saturday at American Family Field.
Rojas exited Game 3 of the NLDS midway through an at-bat due to pain in his lower back, which had flared up during a play on defense earlier in the contest. He was unavailable for Game 4, and the Dodgers wanted to see how he came out of workouts, as well as the air travel to Milwaukee, before deciding whether to carry him for the NLCS.
It is still uncertain whether Rojas will be available for Game 1 on Sunday, but the Dodgers feel like he's healthy enough that including him on the roster will not leave them short on the bench.
The Dodgers, as expected, cut a position player from their NLDS roster in order to add a 13th pitcher for the NLCS. Wanting someone who could provide length, they decided on Justin Wrobleski; Emmet Sheehan had been another option. And because Rojas made the roster, Hyeseong Kim was the odd man out, rather than Josue De Paula.
Both were on the NLDS roster for specialized reasons: Kim for his speed, and De Paula for his bat. The Dodgers opted to keep De Paula, their primary left-handed bat off the bench, instead of Kim, who only made it into Game 4 as a defensive replacement in the wake of Rojas' injury.