Wannabe Playoff Dodgers

With August coming to a close and the Dodgers being a virtual lock to be in the playoffs, let’s look at the crush of guys who want to crash the playoff roster and what chance each of them have to do so.

Current active roster of 25 players (alphabetical order within groups):

Starting Pitchers:  Rich Hill, Kenta Maeda, Hyun Jin Ryu, and Ross Stripling (starting Saturday).

Relief Pitchers:  Luis Avilan, Pedro Baez, Tony Cingrani, Josh Fields, Kenley Jansen, Brandon Morrow, Edward Paredes, Josh Ravin, and Tony Watson

Catchers:  Austin Barnes, Kyle Farmer, Yasmani Grandal

Infielders: Logan Forsythe, Adrian Gonzalez, Corey Seager, Justin Turner, and Chase Utley

Outfielders:  Curtis Granderson, Kike Hernandez, Yasiel Puig, and Chris Taylor

Some of these guys will not be on the playoff roster, because some of the guys not currently on the active 25 roster will definitely be on the playoff roster like [spoiler alert!] Clayton Kershaw.  The above guys who are in danger of being dropped from the playoff roster are Edward Paredes, Tony Cingrani, Kyle Farmer, Josh Ravin, Ross Stripling, Josh Fields and Luis Avilan (in order from most likely dropped to least likely dropped).  Paredes is roughly #5 on the depth list of lefty relievers.  Cingrani is a long term project for Rick Honeycutt.  Farmer could be used as a third catcher to free up Austin Barnes to do great things in the playoffs (pinch-hitting, double switches, pinch running, etc.).  Josh Ravin could become #5 or #6 on the depth list of righty relievers.  Stripling, Fields, and Avilan are on “the bubble”.

Curtis Granderson will definitely be on the playoff roster, because that’s why the Dodgers traded for him.  Adrian Gonzalez will definitely be on the playoff roster, and the only question is how often he will start playoff games.

On the Disabled List: 

Starting Pitchers:  Yu Darvish, Scott Kazmir, Clayton Kershaw, Brandon McCarthy, Julio Urias, Alex Wood

Relief Pitchers:  Grant Dayton, Yimi Garcia, Adam Liberatore

Infielders:  Cody Bellinger

Outfielders:  Andre Ethier, Franklin Gutierrez, Andrew Toles

We all know Clayton Kershaw will be pitching all throughout the playoffs.  Same for Yu Darvish.  Same for Alex Wood, but we’re not 100% sure he will be a starting pitcher as opposed to a reliever.   Cody Bellinger will be back by August 30th and he will start every single game in the playoffs and be the cleanup hitter in every game.  He may start some games at first base and others in the outfield.

Adam Liberatore has started on his journey back, but has recently had just one relief appearance in the minor leagues, so we’ll have to wait to see what he’s got.  Andre Ethier might somehow work his way into becoming a pinch hitter off the bench, but for now he’s hitting just .200 in the minor leagues.  He might be relegated to the back-up squad of #26 to #41.

Grant Dayton is likely done for 2017.  Others in that category include Scott Kazmir and Franklin Gutierrez.  Julio Urias, Yimi Garcia, and Andrew Toles are definitely done for 2017.

Currently in the Minor Leagues and not on the MLB Disabled List, but potential playoff adds:

Walker Buehler, Alex Verdugo, Fabillo Castillo, Wilmer Font, Brock Stewart, Rob Segedin, Brett Eibner, Joc Pederson, Trayce Thompson

Buehler may work his way onto the playoff roster as a reliever.  He’s doing well in AAA in that role, but will need to be tested in the MLB in September.  Alex Verdugo has hit well in AAA all year, but with little power.  The Dodgers will try him out in September.  Joc Pederson has yet to re-find his swing in AAA, but the Dodgers will give him another shot in September.  He may not make it onto the playoff roster.  Brock Stewart is a possible add to the relief squad, but maybe only is a back-up in case someone else gets hurt.  Segedin, Thompson, and Eibner (in that order) are also back-ups in case someone gets hurt.  Same goes for Wilmer Font and Fabillo Castillo.

That gives us a possible long list that will be on the “back-up squad” who could keep sharp by playing intra-squad games at Camelback Ranch:   Edward Paredes, Tony Cingrani, Kyle Farmer, Josh Ravin, Ross Stripling, Adam Liberatore, Andre Ethier, Alex Verdugo, Joc Pederson, Brock Stewart, Rob Segedin, Trayce Thompson, Brett Eibner, Wilmer Font, Fabillo Castillo, and Josh Fields.

Crash’s Predicted Playoff Roster

Starting Pitchers:  Clayton Kershaw, Yu Darvish, Rich Hill, and Alex Wood

Relief Pitchers:  Kenley Jansen (closer), Brandon Morrow, Pedro Baez, Kenta Maeda, Ross Stripling, Walker Buehler, Hyun Jin Ryu, Tony Watson, and Luis Avilan

Catchers:  Yasmani Grandal and Austin Barnes

Infielders:  Cody Bellinger, Adrian Gonzalez, Corey Seager, Justin Turner, Logan Forsythe, and Chase Utley

Outfielders:  Chris Taylor, Curtis Granderson, Yasiel Puig, and Kike Hernandez

• Offense
• Red Hot
• Starting Rotation