Dodgers release NLCS roster and squash any speculation about removals

The Los Angeles Dodgers revealed their roster for the 2025 NLCS ahead of Monday's Game 1 against the Milwaukee Brewers, featuring largely the same group they carried into the NLDS against the Philadelphia Phillies.

The Dodgers, who carried 14 position players and 11 pitchers against the Phillies, have added Ben Casparius to the NLCS roster to give them an extra bullpen arm for the best-of-seven series against the Brewers. In a corresponding move, they dropped Dalton Rushing to keep the roster capped at 26.

Rushing was active for the Wild Card and NLDS while the now-healthy Will Smith worked his way back from a hairline fracture in his right hand, but ultimately lost his backup catcher role to Ben Rortvedt. Casparius, who pitched to a 4.64 ERA over 77 2/3 innings for the Dodgers in 2025 and even spent a brief stint in their starting rotation, spent the final three weeks of the regular season at Triple-A Oklahoma City.

Dodgers add pitching, retain bench players for NLCS matchup vs Brewers

The addition of Casparius (at the expense of Rushing) gives the Dodgers 12 pitchers on their NLCS roster, not including Shohei Ohtani. The fresh, right-handed arm also adds balance to a lefty-heavy Dodgers bullpen.

Notably, the Dodgers' NLCS roster also still includes Justin Wrobleski, who was added to the NLDS squad as an injury replacement for Tanner Scott. The latter is ineligible to play for the Dodgers in the NLCS after being removed in the last round, but he hasn't been ruled out for a potential World Series run.

Despite speculation to the contrary, Rushing's removal also allowed for outfielder Justin Dean and utility man Hyeseong Kim to remain on the roster, though purely in reserve roles. Dean has appeared off the bench as a defensive replacement in six postseason games for the Dodgers without registering an at-bat.

Kim, who had been on the Dodgers' roster since the start of the Wild Card series, didn't make his postseason debut until Game 4 of the NLDS – where he represented the winning run in the Dodgers' 11-inning, walk-off victory that sent the Phillies packing.