Dodgers: Here’s why Edwin Rios deserves final bench spot over DJ Peters

With Opening Day just a week away, the Los Angeles Dodgers are starting to paint a clearer picture in terms of what their final 26-man roster will look like.

While their loaded rotation and lineup are all but locked in, however, there are questions to be had about who makes the bench.

The Dodgers will have the luxury of being able to carry six players on the pine, but let’s assume they play it safe and carry 13 pitchers to begin the campaign.

Barring injury or an unforeseen change of heart by manager Dave Roberts, the likes of Chris Taylor, Austin Barnes, Matt Beaty, and Zach McKinstry are virtual locks to assume four of those five spots.

That means the final spot will (in all likelihood) come down to DJ Peters and Edwin Rios.

While there’s an argument to be made for either player making the final roster, we like to think Rios has the edge over Peters, and here’s why.

Does Edwin Rios deserve the Dodgers’ final bench spot over DJ Peters?

Peters was tearing the cover off the ball at the start of Spring Training, but he’s struggled to maintain that level of production over the entire preseason. Through 20 games, the 25-year-old outfielder is hitting a lackluster .235/.366/.441 with just two home runs and four RBI. He’s also been sat down on strikes 17 times, which accounts for over 40% of his plate appearances.

Peters has made up for his lack of offense with defensive versatility, as he’s capable of playing all three positions in the outfield at an elite level. However, seeing as though the Dodgers already have Taylor and potentially Beaty to throw in the outfield, Peters might be better served starting the season in the minor league ranks to help boost his confidence.

Then, you have Rios, who has looked markedly worse than Peters at the plate this spring. Perhaps that can be attributed to the hamstring tightness he’s been dealing with, but the former sixth-round pick hasn’t covered himself in glory during preseason regardless of the injury.

With that being said, however, he has significantly more MLB experience than Peters and could offer incredible value as a utility infielder off the bench. After all, Justin Turner, who re-signed on a two-year deal this offseason, is entering his age-36 season and will need more scheduled rest days than he’s grown accustomed to.

Rios is more than capable of handling the occasional plug-in play start at the hot corner, and that (in our eyes) gives him a leg up over Peters. However, if Rios’ struggles at the plate persist over the next few weeks, he could find himself optioned to the alternate site early on in the season.

Dodgers: Walker Buehler’s fastball velocity chief concern among spring struggles?

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Walker Buehler has been getting destroyed throughout the spring. Should fans be concerned? Eh, it's tough.