Dodgers announce surprise return, answer fans' wishes with Wild Card roster cut

The Dodgers are raring to go for Game 1 of their Wild Card series against the Reds, with Blake Snell and Yoshinobu Yamamoto guaranteed to take the mound for Games 1 and 2, and Shohei Ohtani on deck for Game 3.

LA released their Wild Card roster the morning before their 6:08 PM first pitch at Dodger Stadium, and fans will be thrilled with the notable inclusions and exclusions.

Will Smith is back from a bone bruise and the Dodgers were (rightfully) unwilling to send Ben Rortvedt back down after a stunning first few weeks in LA, so they'll be carrying three catchers into the best-of-three series.

But perhaps more thrilling for fans: Michael Conforto was left off of the roster after offensive struggles that plagued basically his entire 2025 regular season and relentless calls for the Dodgers to release him. Justin Dean, who played in 18 games in August and September and was almost exclusively used as a pinch runner, took Conforto's spot.

Roki Sasaki's first two relief appearances after coming off of the IL impressed the Dodgers enough that he eked his way onto the roster, and Clayton Kershaw is getting a rest through this first series, as expected.

Dodgers welcome back Will Smith, leave Michael Conforto off of Wild Card roster vs. Reds

The rest of the Dodgers' pitching staff shakes out about as everyone expected, though Ben Casparius was with the team on taxi during workouts on Monday, leading to some speculation that he'd be able to make his way onto the roster after being demoted on Sept. 9.

Anthony Banda is a notable exclusion for the Dodgers' bullpen, but with lefties Tanner Scott, Alex Vesia, Jack Dreyer, and Justin Wrobleski included and Banda used heavily in August and September, he'll get a rest before (probably) being included on a potential NLDS roster.

Snell will face off against Reds ace Hunter Greene and against a Cincinnati lineup that has struggled against left-handed pitching this season. Both pitchers' seasons were abbreviated with injury, but both have also been dominant since coming off of the IL in August.

This Dodgers-Reds series represents the largest payroll gap of any Wild Card matchup, but LA still has a lot to prove and aren't underestimating their opponents. Having Smith back should breathe some life into the lineup, and leaving Conforto off should let fans breathe a sigh of relief.