The Los Angeles Dodgers have relied heavily on their bullpen during this postseason, and that trend is expected to continue in the National League Championship Series (NLCS) against the New York Mets. However, the team will have to cope without left-handed reliever.
He exited before the eighth inning of Game 5 in the National League Division Series (NLDS) due to what manager Dave Roberts described as an “intercostal issue.” The intercostal muscles, located between the ribs, can cause discomfort when strained.
“Losing Alex potentially is brutal. It sucks,” said Roberts. “He’s a big part of what we do. But we’re just going to have to find somebody else to step up.”
There is some hope that Vesia could return if the Dodgers advance to the World Series, with team president Andrew Friedman expressing optimism that he could recover during the NLCS, per Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register.
Throughout the season, Vesia has been the Dodgers’ top left-handed reliever and a leader in the bullpen, posting a 1.76 ERA with 87 strikeouts over 66.1 innings in 67 appearances. He has been effective against both right- and left-handed hitters, holding righties to a .150 average and lefties to .144.
Despite Vesia’s absence, the Mets’ lineup is predominantly right-handed, with switch-hitter Francisco Lindor being the only major exception.
Brent Honeywell, a right-hander, will replace Vesia on the NLCS roster, providing a multi-inning option that could prove valuable during the stretch of three consecutive games in New York after Game 2.
According to Roberts, “He’s been staying sharp by pitching to our hitters on off-days. He’s still dealing with a finger issue, but he’s definitely in the mix.”
Rookie Edgardo Henriquez and righty Ben Casparius have also been included in the roster despite limited roles in the NLDS. The main bullpen arms will be Blake Treinen, Michael Kopech, and Evan Phillips, with Daniel Hudson and Ryan Brasier adding depth. Anthony Banda, the only left-handed reliever for this series, has stepped up significantly this season.
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