LA opts for position-player depth on roster
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The Dodgers added speedster Terrance Gore, utility man Matt Beaty and third catcher Keibert Ruiz to their roster for their National League Wild Card Series that begins Wednesday night against Milwaukee.
To make room, the Dodgers left off the roster right-handed pitcher Dylan Floro, left-handed pitcher Alex Wood and infielder Gavin Lux.
Shop for postseason gear: Gore provides the club with a fast baserunner, although he appeared in only two big league games this year and then was outrighted off the roster. Beaty hit only .220 in 21 games and spent the final month of the season at the alternate training site. Ruiz played in only two games with the Dodgers when Will Smith was injured, but he homered in his first MLB at-bat.
Ruiz will provide cover for manager Dave Roberts to use Smith as a designated hitter when Austin Barnes catches Clayton Kershaw in Game 2 and still have an extra catcher.
Floro was the biggest surprise of all the decisions. He was 3-0 with a 2.59 ERA in 29 games and was being used the final week to pitch out of jams. But needing fewer pitchers for a three-game series, and with starters Tony Gonsolin, Dustin May and Julio Urías available out of the bullpen, the Dodgers instead went with an extra position player.
“That was a very difficult one,” Roberts said of the Floro decision. “A lot of times I sit here and talk about performance matters. But, in this case, ultimately, he performed and still doesn’t have the opportunity. But I do look forward to him, shall we advance, to continue to be on rosters going forward. He was upset and he had every right to be upset.”
Wood was in the starting rotation when the season began, but he missed significant time with left shoulder inflammation and his ERA soared to 6.39 as he was used down the stretch in relief and as an opener.
Lux, promoted as a potential NL Rookie of the Year Award candidate coming into the season, reported to Summer Camp late without providing an explanation and looked unprepared both offensively and defensively. He was recalled on Aug. 29 and given a chance to win the second-base job, as he did in 2019, but he hit .175 and was shaky on defense.
“Gavin certainly could change next series, and he’s such a really good player. But the lack of experience coming off the bench, I just don’t think it was best for him right now,” Roberts said. “Beaty has experience, the bat off the ball I think is very helpful against some guys they’ve got with velocity.”
The roster is as follows:
Pitchers (13): RHP Pedro Baéz, RHP Walker Buehler, RHP Tony Gonsolin, LHP Victor González, RHP Brusdar Graterol, RHP Kenley Jansen, RHP Joe Kelly, LHP Clayton Kershaw, LHP Adam Kolarek, RHP Dustin May, LHP Jake McGee, RHP Blake Treinen, LHP Julio Urías
Position players (15): C Austin Barnes, IF Matt Beaty (L), 1B/OF Cody Bellinger, OF Mookie Betts, OF Terrance Gore, IF/OF Enrique Hernández, IF Max Muncy, OF Joc Pederson, OF AJ Pollock, IF Edwin Ríos, C Keibert Ruiz (S), SS Corey Seager, C Will Smith, IF/OF Chris Taylor, 3B Justin Turner
Taxi squad (12): LHP Scott Alexander, RHP Dylan Floro, C Rocky Gale, RHP Josiah Gray, IF Gavin Lux, IF/OF Zach McKinstry, OF DJ Peters, OF Luke Raley, RHP Dennis Santana, RHP Josh Sborz, RHP Mitch White and LHP Alex Wood
The Wild Card Series continues Thursday night with Game 2 at 7 p.m. PT at Dodger Stadium, live on ESPN.
Game 3 (if necessary) would be played at Dodger Stadium on Friday, with first pitch slated for 3:38 p.m. PT, also on ESPN.