Postseason FAQ: What's next for Dodgers?

It was quite the season for the Dodgers.

Despite navigating through a flurry of injuries, particularly to their pitching staff, the Dodgers were still able to win their 11th National League West title in 12 seasons. They also finished off a 98-win season with a 2-1 win over the Rockies in the regular-season finale.

Now, the focus is on getting 11 more wins in October.

The Dodgers will now have five days off before Game 1 of the NL Division Series, which starts on Saturday at Dodger Stadium. Before then, here’s everything you need to know as Los Angeles prepares for its postseason run.

What could the postseason roster look like?
After playing with a 28-man roster in September, teams revert to 26 players, with a maximum of 13 pitchers, in each round of the postseason. Rosters are due the morning of Game 1 of each round.

Given how their roster is set up, it’s likely the Dodgers go with 13 position players and 13 pitchers in the postseason, though that will all be determined by who they match up against in their first-round series.

C: Will Smith, Austin Barnes
1B: Freddie Freeman
2B: Gavin Lux
3B: Max Muncy, Kiké Hernández
SS: Miguel Rojas, Tommy Edman
OF: Mookie Betts, Teoscar Hernández, Chris Taylor, Andy Pages
DH: Shohei Ohtani
SP: Jack Flaherty, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Walker Buehler, Landon Knack
RP: Evan Phillips, Blake Treinen, Daniel Hudson, Michael Kopech, Alex Vesia, Ryan Brasier, Joe Kelly, Brusdar Graterol, Anthony Banda

What’s left to accomplish?
With the Phillies’ loss to the Nationals on Saturday, the Dodgers clinched the No. 1 seed in the National League and secured home-field advantage through the postseason.

When do the playoffs start?
Now that the Dodgers won’t have to play in the Wild Card Series, their run at their first full-season World Series since 1988 begins on Oct. 5 at Dodger Stadium.

You’ll find the most up-to-date information, including a bracket of matchups if the season ended today, as well as details about potential tiebreakers, at MLB.com/postseason.

Which of the injured players still have a chance to return?
The Dodgers have navigated through a plethora of injuries this season. Tyler Glasnow and Gavin Stone, two of their top starters, will be unavailable in the postseason due to season-ending injuries.

Clayton Kershaw, who has been out since Aug. 31 with a toe injury, will not be ready to pitch until at least the NL Championship Series.

Freeman is also battling a sprained right ankle, which he suffered on Thursday against the Padres. Freeman did not travel for the final three-game series against the Rockies, but the club is optimistic the star first baseman will be ready for the start of the postseason.

Who are some players that are still options for the postseason roster?
Roberts already hinted that Pages will probably get one of their last spots on the bench, likely leaving Kevin Kiermaier without a role on the roster.

In the bullpen, the Dodgers will have to make some tough decisions based on the matchups. Rookie right-hander Edgardo Henriquez, who made his Major League debut on Tuesday, could also be an option with his high-octane four-seam fastball that topped out at 101 mph as he struck out Fernando Tatis Jr.

Who could be the first-round matchup?
The Dodgers have a better idea of who their first opponent will be.

San Diego and Atlanta will meet in a best-of-three Wild Card Series from Tuesday-Thursday, and the winner will then head to Dodger Stadium for Game 1 of the NLDS on Saturday. This season, the Dodgers went 5-8 against the Padres and 5-2 against the Braves.

Regardless of the opponent, the Dodgers will have some unfinished business against both teams. The Dodgers and Braves have had a lot of postseason battles over the years, including Atlanta eliminating L.A. in the 2021 NLCS. Aside from their heated regular-season rivalry, the Dodgers and Padres last met in the postseason in ‘22, with San Diego winning the NLDS in four games.