The Los Angeles Dodgers head into their National League Championship Series opener against the Milwaukee Brewers with a roster question that could shape how Dave Roberts manages the series.
Veteran infielder Miguel Rojas, limited by a back injury sustained during the Division Series, is expected to be available after the manager checked in with him on the eve of Game 1 in Milwaukee, via Dodgers Nation.
Rojas sat out the Dodgers’ final NLDS game as the back issue lingered.
Roberts described him as being in good spirits and noted that a workout on Saturday would serve as the last evaluation before the club finalizes its NLCS roster.
The team views the session as the decisive step in determining whether the 37-year-old can contribute immediately or will need further monitoring.
Even if Rojas is not at full strength, his presence would give Los Angeles an experienced option in a series against a Brewers club that finished the regular season with the best record in baseball.
Milwaukee went 103-59, while the Dodgers reached 100 wins. The teams met in last year’s NLCS, when Los Angeles swept the series, but several Dodgers have acknowledged that the Brewers look improved.
Mookie Betts put it plainly, saying the Brewers are simply better than they were a year ago.
Rojas’ value extends beyond being an extra body on the bench.
During the regular season, he was one of the Dodgers’ more effective hitters against left-handed pitching, posting a .293 average, .340 on-base percentage, and .469 slugging percentage in those matchups.
He also led the club with 40 pinch-hit plate appearances, a role that often becomes critical once postseason games tighten in the late innings.
His ability to handle shortstop, second base, and third base gives Roberts flexibility when matchups shift or when a starter needs a rest.
In a best-of-seven series that could turn on a single at-bat or defensive substitution, having a reliable veteran ready can matter.
The Dodgers know they cannot lean on last year’s result; Milwaukee’s regular-season dominance and the changes the Brewers have made since the teams last met make this a different series.
Whether Rojas is cleared to play from the outset or needs a gradual return, the update from Roberts suggests Los Angeles expects the infielder to factor into its plans as the NLCS begins.
