The Dodgers held their final full-squad workout at Dodger Stadium on Tuesday afternoon before they hit the road for Friday’s National League Division Series opener in our nation’s capital. But before joining his team on the field, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts met with reporters to answer questions.

Without any smoke and mirrors or cloak and dagger deception that was quite popular with his predecessor, Roberts readily answered the one question that everybody in the room had – Have you decided on your 25-man roster for the best-of-five division series?

He did and he revealed it:

Pitchers (11) – Clayton Kershaw, Kenta Maeda, Rich Hill, Julio Urias, Kenley Jansen, Joe Blanton, Josh Fields, Pedro Baez, Luis Avilan, Grant Dayton, Ross Stripling

Catchers (3) – Yasmani Grandal, Carlos Ruiz, Austin Barnes

Infielders (5) – Adrian Gonzalez, Corey Seager, Charlie Culberson, Chase Utley, Justin Turner

Outfielders (6) – Andre Ethier, Yasiel Puig, Joc Pederson, Howie Kendrick, Andrew Toles, Josh Reddick

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts was completely forthcoming with his NLDS playoff roster.
(Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

Although there are no real surprises with this roster, there is one head-scratcher – third catcher Austin Barnes, who appeared in only 21 games with the Dodgers this season posting a slash-line of .156 / .270 / .188 / .458 in 37 plate appearances.

“With [Carlos] Ruiz, just his ability to hit left-handed pitching and I trust him behind the plate obviously,” Roberts said. “[Barnes] just gives the flexibility to potentially run for Yasmani if need be and Austin … he’s a bat off the bench, can hit right-handed, he can run and he can also play second base, third base. Pretty versatile player.”

Noticeably missing from Roberts’ NLDS roster are Kiké Hernandez, Rob Segedin and J.P. Howell, although the latter two will travel with the team to Washington, DC as members of a taxi squad, as will Alex Wood and Brock Stewart. Asked about leaving Howell – an 11-year MLB veteran with postseason experience – off of the roster, Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman admitted that it was a very difficult decision.

“It was incredibly difficult,” Friedman said, as the workout was winding down. “He’s been a big part of what we’ve done this year, and not just between the lines. He’s been a huge part of the success of our bullpen with his mentorship. As everyone would expect, he handled it like a total pro, but still, it was not easy.”

Roberts and Friedman both indicated that those not on the NLDS roster will travel to Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Arizona, where they will continue to work out and be ready in the event of an injury to anyone on the 25-man roster.

Speaking of injuries, Roberts said that both Justin Turner (left hand) and Joc Pederson (right shoulder) are 100 percent healthy and ready to go.

“JT, Joc … all the players, all 25 guys are ready to go,” Roberts said. “They’re already getting antsy, so they’ve got to wait a few days.”

But are they really? Rookie sensation Andrew Toles was still wearing a brace on his left wrist and was the only Dodger player not to take batting practice on Tuesday.

“Tolsey’s doing well,” Roberts insisted. “It was just more trying to stay away from it a little bit the last couple days, but if there was a game today he’d be playing. He’s fine.”

Sporting a wrist brace, rookie outfielder Andrew Toles was the only player on the Dodgers NLDS roster who did not take batting practice on Tuesday afternoon. (Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

As for Ethier, who missed all but the final month of the season while recovering from a fractured right tibia suffered during spring training, his primary role will be that of a left-handed bat off the bench and not necessarily as an insurance policy should Toles not be able to go.

“I think it’s the veteran presence,” said Friedman. “He feels comfortable at the plate right now. He’s someone that’s in the immediate fold that makes sense throughout the course of the game, the beginning of the game to help us. In games that he’s not starting, to have that kind of left-handed bat off the bench is a great thing for us.”

Don’t be surprised to see Andre Ethier come up with a huge clutch hit during the upcoming Division Series. He was absolutely crushing the ball during BP on Tuesday afternoon.
(Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)