Dodgers 2024 Opening Day roster projection 1.0: Battle for last bullpen spots

Los Angeles Dodgers Spring Training
Los Angeles Dodgers Spring Training | Masterpress/GettyImages
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Dodgers Bullpen

  • Evan Phillips
  • Brusdar Graterol
  • Joe Kelly
  • Ryan Brasier
  • Alex Vesia
  • Blake Treinen
  • JP Feyereisen
  • Gavin Stone

Dave Roberts has said that he thinks the Dodgers' bullpen will be one of the team's strengths this year, and looking at this selection of players, it's easy to see why. Phillips, Graterol, Kelly, and Brasier are the ringers, though Brasier will be looking to prove that his 38 2/3 innings with a 0.70 ERA last year weren't a fluke. Vesia was shaky at the beginning of last season, but his history of greatness in 2021 and 2022 will be likely to motivate the Dodgers to keep him as he makes (albeit unevenly split) appearances as a closer between Phillips, Graterol, and Kelly.

Treinen and Feyereisen are both coming off of injury, and Stone's future seems dependent on how he looks in spring training. Treinen feels like a lock, as he had a great 2021 with the Dodgers before he got hurt and he doesn't have minor league options left. Feyereisen's future may be a bit more nebulous; the Dodgers picked him up partway through his recovery from a rotator cuff surgery and he didn't pitch at all last year. Stone will also be fighting with Gus Varland and fellow top prospect Michael Grove for a final bullpen spot, which could add a little intrigue toward Opening Day.

Dodgers Infield

  • Freddie Freeman (1B)
  • Mookie Betts (2B)
  • Gavin Lux (SS)
  • Max Muncy (3B)
  • Will Smith (C)
  • Shohei Ohtani (DH)

Again, no surprises. Freeman, Muncy, and Smith have been fixtures of the Dodgers' infield for some time, and with Betts moving to second and Lux coming back from ACL surgery to play at short, there's little room for any infield prospects to try to break into. Betts, Lux, and Muncy could shift a bit between second and third, and Chris Taylor and Miguel Rojas might get fill-in starts at any one of them, but the Dodgers infield is pretty much primed and ready to go. Ohtani won't play the field this year, but his presence in the lineup is a given.

Schedule