The Los Angeles Dodgers are gearing up to face the New York Yankees in the World Series, but they will be without one of their key relievers. Evan Phillips, who had been performing well in the postseason, was left off the roster due to an arm injury sustained during the National League Championship Series.
This is a significant loss for the Dodgers, as Phillips had not allowed a run in over 6 innings of postseason play leading up to the World Series. Despite this setback, the team is hopeful with the inclusion of Alex Vesia, their top left-handed pitcher, and infielder Miguel Rojas, who are both returning from injuries that kept them out of the NLCS.
Vesia, boasting an impressive 1.76 ERA during the regular season, missed the NLCS due to an intercostal injury but has since been cleared to play after a successful bullpen session. Rojas, on the other hand, has been dealing with an adductor issue but could see playing time in a different role given the strong performances of other infielders like Tommy Edman and Kiké Hernández.
Additionally, Brusdar Graterol, a reliable reliever with a stellar postseason track record, is also on the roster despite not pitching in the playoffs yet. On the other side, the Yankees have included Nestor Cortes on their roster, a pitcher who has been out with an injury but is expected to contribute as a reliever with a limited pitch count.
With both teams making strategic decisions regarding their rosters, the stage is set for an exciting World Series matchup between the Dodgers and the Yankees. Fans can expect to see intense pitching battles and clutch performances as these two powerhouse teams vie for baseball supremacy.
