Why Dalton Rushing and other top prospects are eligible for Dodgers' playoff roster

With the last month of the season just a few days away, all 30 teams will have to make some roster decisions. For the 12 that will head to the postseason, these decisions will be crucial. On Aug. 31, postseason eligibility ends for all players not in the organization, and on Sept. 1, every team's active roster will expand to 28 players.

The Dodgers' 40-man roster is currently at 39, and that 40th spot is likely to go back to Yoshinobu Yamamoto, when he's reinstated from the 60-day IL. They might also have to find space for Tony Gonsolin, if he can return to pitch out of the bullpen this year. Otherwise, the 40-man looks pretty set.

However, if they were so inclined or if they found themselves in a pinch, there is the opportunity for Dodgers prospects who aren't on the 40-man to still appear in the postseason. Per eligibility rules, players on the 40-man roster or 60-day IL by 11:59 PM EST on Aug. 31 can play in the postseason, but teams can also petition to have any player in the organization added to the roster after that deadline.

This doesn't mean that we should be looking out for the Dodgers to do anything crazy, like giving a top prospect their MLB debut during the most high-leverage part of the year, but the door is open.

Dodgers still have the opportunity to call up top prospects during the postseason

For a tangible example: if Will Smith were to get hurt after Aug. 31 and the Dodgers wanted to call up No. 1 prospect Dalton Rushing to replace him, they could petition MLB to allow him to be added to the 40-man in September. The same would go for any of LA's many major league bullpen arms, who are frustratingly prone to injury, and any of their pitching prospects currently in the minors, but not on the 40-man.

Last season, the Phillies added pitcher Orion Kerkering to the 40-man and promoted him to the majors on Sept. 22, and he went on to pitch 5 1/3 innings in the postseason.

Now, no one should be hoping that the Dodgers will resort to this. Best case scenario, all of their current 40-man players stay healthy and available to avoid any complicated shuffling. However, it's reassuring that there are safeguards in the event that this historically very breakable team continues to break at the worst possible time.