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.

Dodgers bring Clayton Kershaw back to their NLDS roster against the Phillies, adding a veteran lefty to the bullpen for a potential final postseason run. The move follows a wildcard round where the Dodgers leaned on younger arms and needed more stability from the relief corps. Kershaw, 11-2 with a 3.36 ERA this season, is expected to pitch out of the bullpen in this series, pairing with Anthony Banda to counter Philadelphia’s left-handed hitters.

Key supporting pieces remain in flux: Will Smith might catch despite a fractured hand, while Edgardo Henriquez and Justin Wrobleski were swapped out of the roster. The Dodgers face a Phillies lineup featuring Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber, Brandon Marsh, and Bryson Stott, all lefty threats. Dodgers fans will be watching whether Kershaw’s postseason pedigree translates into a pivotal series win or if this could be his farewell march.

Beyond Kershaw, the Dodgers lean on depth and experience, hoping the veteran presence steadies a pitching staff that struggled at times in the wild-card round. The Phillies’ mix of power and contact hitters will test a rotation that needs to fire on all cylinders to advance.

Dodgers ride elite pitching and a hot offense into the NLDS, with Ohtani’s postseason pitching debut anchoring the rotation and Yamamoto growing into a trusted big‑game option. Sasaki adds a fresh late‑inning look as Betts heats up, and LA sweeps CIN to set up a Philly test. The bullpen’s late‑inning command remains the hinge, but the collection of stars and depth keeps the title talk loud.

The Dodgers’ bullpen hiccup in the wild-card round exposed a shaky bridge to October, but 23-year-old Roki Sasaki flashed elite relief upside. His triple-digit fastball and hammer splitter dominated hitters in a 1-2-3 ninth, marking a potential late-game difference-maker as Los Angeles advances on the back of a pair of wins over Cincinnati. With the rest of the bullpen scuffling—Vesia, Henriquez and Dreyer missing the zone in key moments—Sasaki’s quick rise has given the roster a credible high-leverage option, while Treinen steadies the ship in the short term.

Sasaki’s journey from hype to bullpen ace is the focal point: a former top prospect who found his footing post-IL, revamped his plan, and now looks ready for pivotal late-inning duties. The rest of LA’s relief corps remains under scrutiny ahead of the NLDS against Philadelphia, forcing starters to hand over bigger cushions. Dodgers fans and fantasy managers alike will be watching closely how Sasaki and Treinen shoulder the late-inning load as LA chases a championship.

Los Angeles Dodgers opened the NL Wild Card with a 10-5 demolition of Cincinnati, driving five homers as Blake Snell dominated through seven innings and racked up nine strikeouts. Ohtani and Hernández provided multi-homer punch, lifting the offense early and giving the bullpen a cushion—until the late innings exposed a fragile relief corps in a must-win setting.

Cincinnati’s Hunter Greene took the loss in his postseason debut, surrendering three homers and exiting after three. Dodgers’ bullpen usage underscored the playoff reality: depth arms matter in a short series, while the Dodgers’ offense and Snell’s form offer a blueprint for a title chase, even as the Reds try to rebound in Games 2 and 3.