Dodgers: Projecting This Season's September Call-Ups

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Yasmani Grandal #9 of the Los Angeles Dodgers congratulates pitcher Brock Stewart #48 after defeating the Miami Marlins at Marlins Park on July 15, 2017, in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Eric Espada/Getty Images) /

As of now, it looks as though the Dodgers will carry the best record in baseball into the final month of regular season play. Some late season call ups may be able to contribute to their success down the stretch.

The Los Angeles Dodgers sit at 79-33, good for a 15 game lead over the second place Diamondbacks in the west. They are a team destined for the playoffs, barring any earth shattering miracles by Arizona or Colorado. The question is no longer if they will be playing in October, but who will get time off to rest in September and who they will play in the NLDS. Major League baseball allows for the roster to expand from the usual 25-man to the entire 40-man roster on September 1st. While not all 40 players are necessarily used, it does create a way for playoff teams to rest their starters.

The Dodgers have several up and coming players on their 40 man roster who will almost certainly see some action come September. On the list are some for sure candidates to receive a promotion, but also some long shots.

MILWAUKEE, WI – JUNE 30: Trayce Thompson (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /

The Shoo-ins

Trayce Thompson– Thompson has been somewhat of a disappointment after his promising 2016 season with Los Angeles. Health has had a significant factor in his production during his limited time at the big league level this season, Thompson hit just .116 with a home run. He hasn’t been much better in the minors, but could certainly provide some rest for the starting outfielders.

Adrian Gonzalez- He wasn’t exactly tearing up opposing pitching before his injury, but he’s still Gonzo. When he returns from his injury by September, it looks as though he will spell Bellinger at first base against right handers. At that point, it’s easy to see Bellinger sliding into left field. Gonzalez will more than likely be on the playoff roster, but that is entirely dependent upon his bat in September.

Brock Stewart- Stewart has been phenomenal when the team has called on him in 2017. In 48 1/3 innings, he has posted a 0.87 era and held opposing hitters to a .181 batting average. Stewart will be a great bullpen addition for a staff that could use the rest. He can make a spot start here and there, but it’s difficult to see him making more starts when the deep rotation of the Dodgers.

Jacob Rhame- Rhame has pitched at the AAA level all year, and his numbers have been about average. In 45 innings, he owns a 3.5 earned run average while striking out 53 batters. What impresses most is that he has only walked eight on the year. Look for Rhame to give the team more bullpen help.

Josh Ravin- A guy that has bounced from minors to majors all year long, Ravin should contribute for most of September. He has pitched to a 3.38 era at the major league level, but only through 5 1/3 innings of work.

Edward Paredes- Paredes made his debut with the Dodgers, pitching 2 1/3 innings over two games with LA. While he did not give up a hit, he was sent back down to the minors to create room after the team’s flurry of deadline moves. Paredes has thrown a total of 40 2/3 innings at the minor league level in 2017, with a spectacular 2.43 era. He will help out the bullpen immensely, and could even be competing for a spot in the playoffs with newly acquired Tony Watson and Tony Cingrani.

Dylan Floro- Floro hasn’t exactly blown minor leaguers away this season, or really any season since 2013. But he is a strong right handed arm that will fill in some innings for a resting team.

Fabio Castillo- Castillo is another guy like Floro, but he does have excellent potential. He’s averaging over nine strikeouts per 9 innings pitched so that we could see him late down the stretch.

Non-Roster Possibilities

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Walker Buehler– At 23 years old, Buehler has impressed thus far at the minor league level. After throwing to a 1.10 era at Class A Advanced and a 3.49 era at AA, he was promoted up to AAA Oklahoma City. In his 3 starts, he has a 6.35 earned run average but has struck out 17 in 11 innings. Buehler is a serious candidate to make an impact on the September team, despite not yet being on the 40 man roster. Cesar Becerra mentioned yesterday that we might see him in the majors sooner rather than later. Although it’s difficult to see him making an impact at the major league level as a starter, he certainly has the pitching presence to make an impact out of the bullpen with his electric arm.

Alex Verdugo– With Verdugo it’s not a matter of if, but when he will hit at the big league level. By being incredibly selfish with him at the deadline, the front office maintained their goal of holding onto Verdugo while still getting elite talent. In 98 games at AAA this year, Verdugo owns a slash line of .314/.384/.426, easily good enough to slot into a major league lineup. While he’s not really a big power guy, he could end up being a decent lead-off man for the team one day. It wouldn’t surprise anyone in the league to see him up by mid-September. The big reason why he hasn’t been called up this season is that it’s hard to find him consistent playing time in the majors.

Yadier Alvarez– Alvarez was another guy the front office was very selfish with at the trade deadline. In three games at AA, Alvarez has thrown a 2.84 era and struck out 18 over 12 2/3 innings. Alvarez might be a long shot for the September roster at just 21 years old and less than three games past A ball, but there’s always a chance with someone of his talent level. I don’t see him contributing as a starter, but it’s feasible to see him come out of the bullpen with his electric arm.

Yusniel Diaz– Diaz has played only five games about A ball, so he falls into the same category as Alvarez. But Diaz has still produced, hitting at .278 across Class A Advanced and AA. In total, he has 8 home runs in 88 games of work. Look for him to make the call up in September 2018 realistically.

Next: 1988 Dodgers vs. 2017 Dodgers

Although the team is chasing history trying to win more than 116 games, the front office is smarter than that. They will not keep their playoff lineup in every single day to make sure that a record is beaten. They have their eyes on the world series, and they understand that record setting runs mean nothing without hoisting the trophy at the end of the year. There are questions about what the makeup of the lineup will be come October, but those should all be answered by September performances.

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Dodgers: Projecting This Season’s September Call-Ups

As of now, it looks as though the Dodgers will carry the best record in baseball into the final month of regular season play. Some late season call ups may be able to contribute to their success down the stretch.

The Shoo-ins

Non-Roster Possibilities

More from Dodgers Way

Schedule