The race for the World Series is wide open. Most will admit that there is no odds-on favorite. Every team has questions to answer as they pursue the Fall Classic. Here are four roster questions the Los Angeles Dodgers need answered before the Division Series against the San Diego Padres.
Five Questions For The Dodgers Roster Before The Division Series
Is Freddie Freeman Healthy (Enough)?
Freddie Freeman has had a challenging year. From a family emergency to a hairline fracture in his finger and, finally, a sprained ankle sustained in the Division-clinching win against the Padres, nothing has been easy for Freeman this season. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said the latest injury would be “limiting’ for Freeman both in running the bases and defensively. The All-Star first basemen will face live pitching at least twice and continue to rehab the ankle before Saturday’s game. It has been said at least for this season, “As Freddie Freeman goes, so go the Dodgers.” Freeman will play. How effective he will be is another question entirely.
Who Gets The Last Position Spot On The Roster?
Chris Taylor and Kevin Kiermaier are vying for the last position spot on the division series roster. The Dodgers got Kiermaier for his gold-glove defense in center field. The other things to consider are that the veteran is a left-handed bat off the bench and can bunt runners over. However, he is hitting below a .200 average, and the Dodgers rarely bunt.
There is no question that Chris Taylor has struggled mightily this season. However, he can play six different positions on the diamond and his defense is better than average. He has also hit an average above .300 since the All-Star Break. Finally, Taylor has had some clutch postseason hits, including the 2017 World Series against the Houston Astros and the clinching two-run home run against the St. Louis Cardinals in the 2019 Wild Card.
Who Replaces Brusdar Gaterol In The Bullpen?
It will be very hard to replace a pitcher who throws 100 mph and has a sub-2.00 Earned Run Average in the postseason, but that is what Los Angeles endeavors to do because Brusdar Gaterol has been battling shoulder inflammation for most of the season and will be unavailable for the Division Series. Will the Dodgers look to rookie reliever Edguardo Henriquez to take his place? Henriquez was called up for the final regular season series against the Colorado Rockies. In that small sample size, the young fireballer has allowed two walks and one earned run with five strikeouts. It’s been said that with his nasty slider and above-average fastball, he has “stuff that plays.” The question is, will it play in October?
Will Joe Kelly Or Daniel Hudson Be On The Roster?
Daniel Hudson helped stabilize the bullpen’s back end during the season’s first half for the Dodgers. He had an ERA of around 2.5 and could be counted on to get a save when called upon. However, after the All-Star Break, his ERA is around five, and he’s given up a lot of walks and home runs. The most logical explanation is fatigue. Will the week off be enough time to recover?
Joe Kelly has the nastiest stuff for a reliever, but the real question has always been whether he can control it. The oft-injured right-hander has struggled this year, but his repertoire is unhittable when he is right. Will the Dodgers go to him in a must-win game, or has Kelly fallen off Dave Roberts’ trust tree altogether?
There is no question that Los Angeles will need contributions from everyone on the roster in a series against the Padres. Dodger fans hope they weigh their choices wisely in their quest for another World Series win.
Main Photo Credits: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images
