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Dodgers World Series roster: LA loses key pitcher for Fall Classic vs. Yankees

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Dodgers World Series roster: LA loses key pitcher for Fall Classic vs. Yankees

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LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Dodgers bullpen will be missing a crucial piece from its arsenal in the World Series. 

The team’s roster announced Friday did not include reliever Evan Phillips, whose outing in the clinching Game 6 of the National League Championship Series was cut short over injury concerns. 

While Phillips was replaced on the roster by fellow right-hander Brusdar Graterol, who was out one month with a shoulder injury, the loss of Phillips deletes a crucial piece of the Dodgers’ postseason bullpen alignment. 

He has been perfect in this postseason, giving up no runs in 6 ⅔ innings across five games, including a pair of wins in two Dodgers “bullpen games,” manned entirely by relievers.

Phillips said Thursday he believed that his removal from Game 6 after an inning – the Dodgers planned to have him go two – was wise and likely preserved him for the World Series, and that he expected to be on the roster.

“The decision in Game 6 was about this moment, keeping this as an option,” Phillips said. ” We were probably playing with fire a little bit there; once I came out of that inning the decision was to go to another arm in the bullpen, just to make sure my health is at the forefront that I’m an option for this series.”

The Dodgers also welcomed back lefty reliever Alex Vesia (oblique) and shortstop Miguel Rojas (adductor), who both missed the NLCS. The Yankees’ roster had no changes; reliever Mark Leiter Jr. remains on the roster after replacing the injured Ian Hamilton during the ALCS.

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