Dodgers release full-strength roster for NLDS vs Braves with 2 slight pitching surprises

Before finalizing their postseason roster, the Los Angeles Dodgers threw some confusion into the mix earlier in the week. Former top prospect Ronan Kopp was recalled to the major league roster; Ben Rortvedt, Alex Freeland, Emmet Sheehan, and Bobby Miller had lockers in the clubhouse.

There was some thinking that the Dodgers would opt for a bat-heavy roster and carry 12 pitchers and 14 position players instead of an even split. It would be the only way they could fit both No. 1 prospect Josue De Paula and speedster Hyeseong Kim, who were both in the running early as a bench bat and pinch-runner, respectively.

After far too much ado, the Dodgers announced their 26-man for the NLDS against the Atlanta Braves on Saturday morning. They are indeed carrying 12 pitchers and 14 position players, but Kopp, Rortvedt, Freeland, Sheehan, and Miller all turned out to be smokescreen. None are included on the roster.

The biggest exclusions here are Justin Wrobleski and Jack Dreyer, who were widely assumed to be part of this opening effort against Atlanta.

With De Paula in as a fourth outfielder (who most likely won't see any time in the outfield), Alex Call was left off, as expected. Hunter Feduccia also gets the nod over Dalton Rushing, but fans should still expect to see Will Smith run the show.

Dodgers' NLDS roster vs. Braves leaves off Justin Wrobleski, Jack Dreyer

By leaving out Wrobleski and Dreyer and opting instead for Kris Bubic and Brock Stewart, the Dodgers are sticking with their veterans. Despite an All-Star-earning first half, Wrobleski lost his footing a bit in the second half and spent some time on the IL. When he came off of it, he moved into the bullpen as a bulk reliever.

Dreyer also enjoyed another solid season in LA, but he too stumbled a bit in the last few weeks of the season. Bubic only pitched in five games after coming off the IL, but his 4 2/3 innings were scoreless.

The Dodgers also dropped their Game 1 lineup, with Tarik Skubal already announced as a starter (Blake Snell will go in Game 2, and then Yoshinobu Yamamoto will follow in Game 3).

Mookie Betts gets the leadoff spot over Shohei Ohtani, who the Dodgers have been trying to convince fans is feeling perfectly fine after his IL stint. Dave Roberts let that mask slip a little ahead of Game 1, saying he wasn't sure what they should expect out of their superstar.

LA will match up against lefty reliever Dylan Dodd as Atlanta stages a bullpen game. In the grand scheme, this isn't quite the David vs. Goliath some writers are trying to make it out to be, but Skubal vs. Dodd certainly adds some credence to that line of thinking.

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