MILWAUKEE -- The Dodgers came out of the NL Division Series with some uncertainty regarding the status of Miguel Rojas, but on the eve of the NL Championship Series against the Brewers, manager Dave Roberts said he expects the veteran infielder to be included on the roster.
"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 were already planning on cutting a position player from their NLDS roster in order to add a 13th pitcher for the NLCS -- someone who could provide length, likely Emmet Sheehan or Justin Wrobleski. Because Rojas is set to make the roster, either Hyeseong Kim or Josue De Paula is the likely odd man out.
Both were on the NLDS roster for specialized reasons: Kim for his speed, and De Paula for his bat. The Dodgers appear more likely to keep De Paula, their primary left-handed bat off the bench, than Kim, who only made it into Game 4 as a defensive replacement in the wake of Rojas' injury.