As the Los Angeles Dodgers look ahead to October with aspirations of defending their 2024 World Series title, several players on the roster are playing for their Dodgers futures.
Some may be looking to redefine their trajectories with the club, while others may be fighting just to be on the roster in 2026. Their reputations – and, in some cases, contracts – hinge primarily on their performance in the postseason. Talk about pressure.
Here are four players on the Dodgers roster who are really feeling the heat as they look ahead to October.
4 Dodgers whose futures depend on promising 2025 postseason performances
Roki Sasaki
Roki Sasaki was activated off the 60-day injured list late in the season and is being auditioned in a relief role to see if he can handle high-leverage postseason innings. A strong October could cement his role and trajectory in the Dodgers' bullpen and/or rotation plans.
Sasaki impressed in his first relief appearance for Los Angeles Wednesday against the Arizona Diamondbacks. If he can help rectify the Dodgers' bullpen struggles in October, it would go a long way toward reshaping the narrative on his otherwise disappointing rookie season.
Edgardo Henriquez
Edgardo Henriquez has bounced back and forth between Los Angeles and Triple-A Oklahoma City since being activated off the injured list at the end of June. His current stint with the Dodgers has seen mixed results; after not allowing a single earned run in August, he has had an uneven September that has ballooned his ERA for the month up to 7.50.
Henriquez is among the “next wave” relievers that Dodgers management is considering. A solid postseason showing might elevate him into a more permanent bullpen role, while a shaky performance could see him bounced back to Triple-A to start the 2026 season.
Blake Treinen
Blake Treinen's September struggles – he has five losses and an 11.05 ERA this month – have drawn plenty of attention, bringing his postseason role into question. It appears that Dave Roberts is still trusting him in high-leverage situations (for now), but that may change when the stakes are raised in October.
A solid playoff performance could help restore confidence and justify keeping Treinen, but the Dodgers likely won't reserve a roster spot for him next year if he can't level up to handle the October pressure.
Michael Conforto
On an expiring deal and likely entering his final days in Los Angeles, Michael Conforto has been a major disappointment to the Dodgers this season. A hot October might buy him another look, but the Dodgers otherwise seem ready to move on.
More Dodgers content from Dodgers Way
