Miguel Rojas' abrupt exit from NLDS Game 3 and diagnosis puts a damper on Dodgers' victory

The Los Angeles Dodgers were enjoying a 3-1 lead over the Atlanta Braves in the top of the eighth of NLDS Game 3 when Miguel Rojas stepped up to the plate. It was his second start of the postseason, but he didn't last long in Game 2 — pulled after one at-bat (which resulted in a double) in favor of lefty Max Muncy, a direct response to Walt Weiss' bullpen game.

With lefty Chris Sale on the mound for a proper start in Game 3, it stood to reason that Rojas would start and end the match. But after striking out in his first at-bat, lining out in his second, and grounding out in his third, he stood in against Atlanta reliever Brent Suter with Shohei Ohtani on first and no outs.

After taking a ball, he fouled off a sinker on a huge cut. As soon as he came out of his motion, it was clear he'd tweaked something. He winced and limped onto home plate and bent down, hands on his knees, before trying to walk it off. After being attended to by a trainer, he limped back to the dugout.

Tommy Edman was tasked with completing the at-bat, which ended in a pop out.

Miguel Rojas exits Dodgers' NLDS Game 3 vs. Braves with lower back pain

Shots of Rojas in the dugout showed him hunched over, still holding his lower back. The Dodgers were quick to update that he had left the game with pain in that area, and will presumably undergo further testing ahead of Game 4. He said he "wasn't concerned about his availability going forward," but we'll let the Dodgers be the judge of that.

Rojas' improbable — nay, impossible — game-tying World Series homer last year gave fans reason to believe he might do something like it again in 2026 ... but he's a year older and the oldest position player on the Dodgers' roster. He's avoided the IL since August 2024, but father time comes for us all.

If the Dodgers deem Rojas unavailable for the rest of the postseason the Dodgers still have options if they move on to the NLCS, with Alex Freeland being the likeliest (but probably lesser used) choice. Tommy Edman would most likely get every start Rojas might have going forward.

But if this is it for Rojas, who is expected to retire at the end of the season (though he's keeping the door open for a return if the Dodgers were to offer in 2027), it's a heartbreaking way to go out.

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