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With more healthy rosters come more durable choices. Typically talking, it is a good downside to have.
For the Dodgers, who’re bidding for one more NL West title, these choices have to set them as much as end the common season sturdy.
The Dodgers know that they want sure gamers to get proper to ensure that them to make a deep postseason run. However additionally they have to put themselves in the very best place to win on any given night time. These issues aren’t mutually unique, however the latter is arguably the larger precedence with a good division race coming to an in depth.
That has already led to at least one robust name earlier this week, when righty reliever Ben Casparius was optioned to make room for lefty Alex Vesia’s return from the injured listing. There are doubtless others on the best way. Listed here are some massive choices the Dodgers should make within the close to future:
What’s subsequent for Sasaki?It wasn’t way back that Roki Sasaki didn’t appear to be a viable choice to return to the large league membership this season. However the door appears to be open after the rookie right-hander flashed some electrical stuff in his final rehab begin with Triple-A Oklahoma Metropolis.
The Dodgers’ rotation has no openings as issues stand, so Sasaki’s path again to the Majors this season would contain shifting to the bullpen. That begs the query: Would it not be higher for Sasaki’s improvement for him to shut out the season making common begins in Triple-A …
… or would each he and the Dodgers profit from him pitching in some capability within the Majors — and if he earns it, within the postseason? To get to that time, Sasaki would wish to show himself in a brand new function on the massive league degree. These are all components that the group is making an allowance for.
“Simply to be trustworthy with Roki and type of the place we’re at, the place he is at, what’s greatest for him, what’s greatest for us,” supervisor Dave Roberts stated. “And I do assume that that query goes to be requested, as a result of you’ll be able to, I believe, argue each. Whether or not it is type of preparing for one thing to occur right here in a beginning function or altering a job, I believe it simply all must be on the desk. We’ll have that dialog.”
Who must be the backup catcher?Rookie backstop Dalton Dashing started a rehab task with Oklahoma Metropolis on Thursday, placing him in line to return after a minimum-length stint on the injured listing with a bone bruise in his proper shin. However in a small pattern with the Dodgers, Ben Rortvedt has merited some critical consideration for the backup function.
Rortvedt, who was acquired from the Rays forward of the Commerce Deadline, has been thrown into the fireplace since having his contract chosen final week. With Will Smith lacking time with a proper hand bone bruise and Dashing occurring the IL, Rortvedt has needed to study the Dodgers’ workers in a rush.
Rortvedt is out of Minor League choices, one more reason that the Dodgers could decide to maintain him on the lively roster. Dashing has extra offensive upside, though he has but to get regular outcomes on the massive league degree. It’ll come right down to which qualities the crew chooses to prioritize with its depth items.
Who’s earned a spot within the bullpen?The Dodgers have quite a lot of relievers to select from. However what number of of them are really dependable?
This is likely to be the Dodgers’ place group with essentially the most tough steadiness of get-right vs. win-now choices. Simply as every remaining sport issues on a crew degree, the ultimate stretch could also be simply as important for people and their roles going ahead.
