Dodgers drop struggling reliever off NLDS roster to make room for Clayton Kershaw

Had to happen.

Adam Weinrib

Wild Card Series - Cincinnati Reds v Los Angeles Dodgers - Game Two / Ronald Martinez/GettyImages

The Los Angeles Dodgers have spent the past several seasons cycling relievers in and out endlessly to soak up innings throughout the regular season. Why would their blueprint in the postseason be any different?

The Dodgers authored the only sweep of the Wild Card round, knocking off the late-charging Cincinnati Reds in two, but the set wasn't without peril. Somehow, both blowout wins had moments of teeth-gnashing late, as tryout bullpen arms like Edgardo Henriquez, Jack Dreyer, Emmet Sheehan, and even Alex Vesia struggled to land strikes (to put it mildly).

There was a brief moment at the end of the season when it seemed like Clayton Kershaw's home farewell might be his final appearance in Dodger Blue. But after an effective relief outing in the desert, and a first-round series' worth of 'pen meltdowns from a seemingly endless parade of middle relievers, that seemed less and less plausible.

Naturally, the Dodgers made the only decision they could've when their NLDS roster dropped Saturday morning before their showdown with the Phillies. Kershaw and left-hander Anthony Banda (a 2024 playoff stalwart) were added to the roster. Off the list? Henriquez and Justin Wrobleski.

Here’s the Dodgers’ NLDS roster, which includes Clayton Kershaw and Anthony Banda as two of four lefty relievers.

Justin Wrobleski and Edgardo Henriquez come off the roster. pic.twitter.com/kNaMKurRDW
— Fabian Ardaya (@FabianArdaya) October 4, 2025

Dodgers Playoff Roster vs. Phillies: Clayton Kershaw joins NLDS roster, Edgardo Henriquez drops off

Wrobleski didn't appear in the first round of this year's postseason, but Henriquez unfortunately did, and it wasn't pretty. His 102 MPH fastball failed to find the corners - or the middle - as the three-batter minimum mercifully put an end to his outing after a single and pair of walks in Game 1. He may eventually be a secret weapon hiding in the depths of this 40-man roster, but today is not that day. 2025 is not that year.

Kershaw won't earn a start in this series. He won't be the surprise closer, either; that honor will go to the other guy who shared his bullpen audition in Arizona, Roki Sasaki. But there certainly might come a moment for the legend to have his David Cone 2000 World Series moment, and he won't be overwhelmed.

At the very least, he'll certainly land 'em.

Adam Weinrib

Adam Weinrib is a Content Director on the FanSided network, and has been the co-editor at Yanks Go Yard and Dodgers Way for 4 years. He also co-hosts The Baseball Insiders Podcast twice weekly, alongside FanSided MLB insider Robert Murray, as well as the Yanks Go Yard Podcast. Previously, he was a Senior Editor at 12up.com, and has been covering MLB and NFL for eight years. Previously, he was a headline and features contributor at ClickHole and Onion Sports, as well as the Associate Producer of the ESPN 30 for 30 film "Believeland". An avowed fan of the New York sports teams -- specifically the Yankees -- as well as the North Carolina Tar Heels, you can find Adam complaining mid-game on Twitter, as well as on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn if the game goes really poorly.