Dodgers finalize NLDS roster: 11 pitchers (five lefties) and 15 position players. Michael Conforto is off the roster again, while Justin Wrobleski and Edgardo Henriquez were cut to clear space for Clayton Kershaw and Anthony Banda.

Kershaw returns as a bullpen option. Manager Dave Roberts has signaled he’ll be on the DS roster if possible, with Banda in reserve for a potential next round. Kershaw posted a 3.36 ERA in 23 appearances (22 starts) and even worked a scoreless inning vs Arizona late in the season.

These moves emphasize a bullpen-focused plan against Philadelphia, leveraging left-handed depth and veteran juice. For fantasy and betting, monitor Kershaw’s leverage opportunities and Banda’s long-relief role as the series unfolds.

Will Smith returns from a fractured hand and sits on the Dodgers' wild-card roster with uncertain Game 1 duties. If Smith can’t go, Ben Rortvedt would start behind the plate, giving LA a trusted backup catcher and pinch-hitting option. Michael Conforto is omitted from the playoff roster, while Alex Call and Justin Dean earn bench roles. Hyeseong Kim adds speed, Shohei Ohtani remains a two-way factor, and Roki Sasaki returns in relief. The bullpen centers on Glasnow, Treinen, Scott and other lefty options, with Kershaw left off this round.

The Dodgers emphasize depth and flexibility in a short series, balancing injury comebacks, bench speed, and bullpen versatility. Rotational plans stay conservative unless they advance, while post-season feel and matchup nuance shape lineup choices and late-inning strategy, offering dynamic fantasy leverage across hitters and relievers.

Unluckiest hitters of 2025 show a stark gap between expected and actual results, per BaseballSavant. Perez and Conforto lead the list with a 3.0 unlucky score, proving big names can stumble in the clutch.

Perez finished 155 games with 30 homers, a .236/.284/.729 line and 0.4 WAR. Conforto hit .199 with OPS+ 79 and -0.7 WAR in his Dodgers debut. Soto, Rice, Adell, Garcia Jr., Seager, Swanson, Lopez and Bell also showed notable misfortune, shaping postseason bets.

Kiké Hernández carried a three-hit day for the Dodgers, delivering the go-ahead two-run double in the ninth to lift Los Angeles past Seattle 5-3. Dalton Rushing tacked on a two-run homer earlier, and the Dodgers pieced it together with a deep bullpen performance to close out the win. Glancing at the box, the late surge came via a Conforto single and a wild pitch that cleared the way for a pivotal scoring frame. The day also highlighted the Mariners’ 30-30 milestone contender, Julio Rodríguez, and kept the Dodgers in prime form for the postseason chase.

Glasnow worked three innings in his final regular-season start, while Gilbert kept the Dodgers at bay through four; the fifth inning saw Dalton Rushing connect for a two-out, two-run shot to break the score. Seattle briefly retook the lead with Polanco’s three-run blast, but a late Dodgers rally—fueled by Conforto, Hernández, and a controlled bullpen—reasserted control. Henríquez locked it down in the ninth, completing a nine-strikeout finish for the relief staff, a nod to a 1920s-era bullpen flourish.

Up next, the Dodgers close out the regular season with Kershaw on the hill against Bryce Miller, as Seattle turns the page toward the postseason. The win underscores Los Angeles’ late-season resilience and the depth of its bullpen, while Seattle’s star duo, Rodríguez and Polanco, left their imprint but couldn’t seal the game in the final frames.