Dodgers place LHP Alex Vesia, RHP Brusdar Graterol on WS roster

Field Level Media|published: Fri 25th October, 14:22 2024

Oct 11, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Alex Vesia (51) pitches in the seventh inning against the San Diego Padres during game five of the NLDS for the 2024 MLB Playoffs at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

The Los Angeles Dodgers return left-hander Alex Vesia, right-hander Brusdar Graterol and shortstop Miguel Rojas into the fold as their World Series roster was announced Friday in advance of Game 1 against the New York Yankees.

Vesia, 28, came away with a rib injury during Game 5 of the National League Division Series and was not included on the NL Championship Series roster. Graterol, 26, has not yet participated in the current postseason because of shoulder discomfort.

Rojas, 35, has been dealing with a groin injury all season that he aggravated during the NLDS and left him out of the team's NLCS plans.

Omissions from the roster the Dodgers used in their NLCS victory over the New York Mets include right-handers Edgardo Henriquez and Evan Phillips and outfielder Kevin Kiermaier.

Phillips, who has been a key member of the bullpen, with a 3.62 ERA and 18 saves this season, had hinted at arm fatigue after the NLCS.

Vesia was 5-4 with a 1.76 ERA in 67 innings this season, a bounce-back year after he had a 4.35 ERA in 2023. In five seasons, Vesia is 15-11 with a 2.89 ERA in 232 appearances (one start) for the Miami Marlins (2020) and Dodgers.

Graterol had a 2.45 ERA in just seven appearances after dealing with shoulder and hamstring issues this season. He is 11-9 with a 2.78 ERA in 188 games (five starts) over six seasons for the Minnesota Twins (2019) and Dodgers.

Rojas took over as the Dodgers' everyday shortstop when Mookie Betts went down with a broken hand in June and stayed at the position when Betts returned in August. He batted .283 with six home runs, 36 RBIs and 41 runs scored in 103 games.

Tommy Edman took over at shortstop for Los Angeles and had 11 RBIs against the Mets to earn NLCS MVP honors.

Over 11 seasons, Rojas is a career .260 hitter with 50 home runs and 336 RBIs over 1,182 games for the Dodgers (2014, 2023-24) and Marlins (2015-22).

The Dodgers and Yankees play the first two games of the World Series at Los Angeles on Friday and Saturday before moving to New York for Games 3 and 4 as well as a potential Game 5, starting Monday.

--Field Level Media

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