Dodgers: 1 thing we’re worried about after Wild Card Game roster release

The Los Angeles Dodgers have spent most of 2021 among the hottest teams in baseball, their success only minimized because they happened to run into an all-world absurd San Francisco Giants season.

It happens. Once a century.

All year long, though, there have been surprising injury-related depth issues on this roster. The bullpen has had to scrounge from the bottom of a barrel they never expected to dive into in order to find enough viable arms to get through the season. When Clayton Kershaw went down for the second time last week, most of us realized just how thin the rotation depth really was, too.

And then … there’s the bench.

Max Muncy’s injury, which might keep him out for the Dodgers’ playoff run, led to a promotion for Albert Pujols/Cody Bellinger, and the requisite rise of everyone situated behind them on the bench.

A Wild Card Game is typically “all hands on deck,” leading to the promotion of a bunch of offensive players who might end up filling hyper-specific insurance roles. This fleet of bench players always secures roster spots in place of starters like Walker Buehler, who definitely won’t be used.

That being said … man, there are a lot of unappealing offensive options for a late-and-close game on this new-look, one-game roster.

The Dodgers’ Wild Card Game roster features a whole lot of weird offensive depth.

Technically, the Dodgers are carrying nine outfielders into battle on Wednesday night — and that doesn’t even include Gavin Lux, who isn’t listed on the official roster in that capacity. Fine. 10.

Outside of Mookie Betts, AJ Pollock, and Chris Taylor, do you have full trust in any one of them right now? God forbid injury concerns rear their ugly head. Is Cody Bellinger playing first base? Is he your fourth outfielder? Will Matt Beaty get a big at-bat? What about Billy McKinney?

Humorously enough, there aren’t really any speed demons here, either. Lux might be the team’s secret weapon pinch-runner. There certainly isn’t a Quintin Berry-type, the kind of ballplayer who’s become synonymous with Wild Card Game hijinks. There also isn’t an emergency third catcher. It’s all outfielders.

So many outfielders, in fact, that veteran lefty David Price was nudged off the roster.

10 pitchers should be enough, especially with Scherzer on the mound. But nobody — nobody — wants to see Julio Urias in this game unless they absolutely have to deploy him, in which case disaster has likely struck.

Wouldn’t Price have been a wiser add than Steven Souza Jr.? We can only hope this game doesn’t come down to the margins.

Dodgers: 3 reasons starting Max Scherzer in possible NLWC Game is easiest decision ever

The Los Angeles Dodgers obviously know they need to start Max Scherzer if they're stuck in the NL Wild Card Game. But to reinforce it, here's why.