LA adds Lux, Floro for NLDS; Ríos, Ruiz out

October 6th, 2020

Infielder Edwin Ríos was left off the Dodgers’ roster for the National League Division Series on Tuesday because he suffered a previously undisclosed left groin strain, according to manager Dave Roberts.

Also omitted after being included on the NL Wild Card Series roster was third catcher Keibert Ruiz. Added to the roster for the NLDS against the Padres were right-handed reliever Dylan Floro and infielder Gavin Lux.

Roberts said Ríos was injured during a Sunday workout at Globe Life Field.

“Two days ago he was taking some ground balls and made a play to his right, threw the ball to first base and tweaked his groin a little bit,” said Roberts. “Obviously, significant enough for us not to include him on this active roster. So it’s better today than it was yesterday, so hopefully he’ll just continue to improve and as we get through this series, hopefully he’ll be available for the next one.”

Roberts said had Ríos been healthy, he “would have been a big part of the conversation” to start at designated hitter Tuesday night.

“Losing him is a loss the way he’s performed,” Roberts said.

Instead, Roberts went with Joc Pederson, who hit .190 during a season-long slump and grounded into a double play in his only at-bat during the NL Wild Card Series.

Ríos played a significant amount when starting third baseman Justin Turner was out with a left hamstring strain. Roberts said first baseman Max Muncy will back up Turner, and Matt Beaty also could play third base. Despite the injury, Ríos was included on the 12-man taxi squad.

Ríos went 0-for-3 with a walk and a strikeout in Game 1 of the NL Wild Card Series as the designated hitter and didn’t appear in Game 2.

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 struggled both offensively and defensively. He was recalled on Aug. 27 and given a chance to win the second-base job, as he did last year, but he hit .175 and was shaky defensively.

Remaining on the roster is speedster Terrance Gore, although he appeared in only two big league games this year and then was outrighted to the alternate training site on Aug. 6. Also remaining is utility player Beaty, who hit only .220 in 21 games and spent the last month of the season at the alternate training site.

Ruiz was added to the roster for the NL Wild Card Series to allow for the use of catcher Will Smith to serve as designated hitter when backup Austin Barnes caught Clayton Kershaw. Ruiz played in only two games with the Dodgers when Smith was injured, but he homered in his first MLB at-bat.

Roberts said the club preferred to keep Gore over Ruiz, because Gore potentially could participate in all five games, while Ruiz would likely be limited to only Game 2.

Floro was 3-0 with a 2.59 ERA in 25 games and was being used the final week of the regular season 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.

The Dodgers will carry 14 pitchers and 14 position players. The roster is as follows:

Pitchers (14): RHP Pedro Baéz, RHP Walker Buehler, RHP Dylan Floro, 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 (14): C Austin Barnes, IF Matt Beaty, 1B/OF Cody Bellinger, OF Mookie Betts, OF Terrance Gore, IF/OF Enrique Hernández, 2B Gavin Lux, IF Max Muncy, OF Joc Pederson, OF AJ Pollock, SS Corey Seager, C Will Smith, IF/OF Chris Taylor, 3B Justin Turner

Taxi squad (12): LHP Scott Alexander, C Rocky Gale, RHP Josiah Gray, IF/OF Zach McKinstry, OF DJ Peters, OF Luke Raley, IF Edwin Ríos, C Keibert Ruiz, RHP Dennis Santana, RHP Josh Sborz, RHP Mitch White and LHP Alex Wood