Jeff McNeil has been added to the New York Mets’ roster for the NL Championship Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers after recovering from a broken right wrist.
Pitcher Alex Vesia and infielder Miguel Rojas were removed from the Dodgers’ roster for the series that started on Sunday, while outfielder Kevin Kiermaier and pitcher Brent Honeywell were included after missing the NL Division Series.
McNeil broke his wrist on September 6 when he was hit by a pitch from Cincinnati’s Brandon Williamson. He returned to play this weekend for Scottsdale in the Arizona Fall League, going 1 for 4 with a walk while playing second base on Friday, and 1 for 5 with an RBI single while in right field on Saturday.
“Just wanted to get through it healthy. Just didn’t want any pain. The wrist felt good,” McNeil said. “I took a really good at-bat, too, my first AB. I think it was six, seven-pitch at-bat and got a base hit. Felt really good. Kind of felt like myself. So as long as I felt good swinging the bat with no pain, I wanted to be here.”
McNeil, the 2022 major league batting champion, grew up in Santa Barbara, about two hours from Dodger Stadium, where he attended games as a Dodgers fan.
“I remember when I got called up in 2018, this is one of the first places I got to play,” he said. “It was pretty cool and special for me to play in this ballpark.”
Right-handed reliever Adam Ottavino was dropped from the Mets’ roster.
Vesia experienced cramping in his rib cage while warming up for the eighth inning during Friday’s 2-0 win over San Diego in Game 5 of the Division Series. The 28-year-old had an MRI, and Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said it was an intercostal injury.
“I think he’s still in play if we are fortunate enough to get to the World Series,” Roberts said. With Vesia absent, Anthony Banda is now the only left-handed pitcher on the Dodgers’ roster.
Rojas has been dealing with a left-thigh strain that kept him out of the last two games against the Padres. He was replaced by Kiké Hernández, who had three hits in those two games, including a solo homer in Game 5.
“He’s obviously a huge part of our ballclub,” Roberts said. “He’s playable, but I think we just, as an organization, felt that what he brings to the table as far as elite shortstop defense, we just feel right now physically he’s a little bit more compromised.”
Tommy Edman will be the starting shortstop for the entire NLCS, according to Roberts. He was acquired from St. Louis at the July 30 trade deadline.
Kiermaier was brought in from Toronto at the trade deadline, and Honeywell was claimed off waivers from Pittsburgh on July 13.
All-Star first baseman Freddie Freeman was in the Dodgers’ lineup for Game 1, set to bat third. He has been struggling with a sprained right ankle that affected him in the NLDS.
“It’s better than yesterday,” Roberts said. “I’m expecting him to start and finish the game. But if we have to defensive replace, we will.” The Dodgers are carrying 13 pitchers and 13 position players.
New York has kept rookie infielder Luisangel Acuña, who is the brother of Atlanta star Ronald Acuña Jr. The Mets have 12 pitchers on their roster.
