Left-handed pitcher Alex Vesia and shortstop Miguel Rojas might be added to the Los Angeles Dodgers roster for the World Series, while left-hander Nestor Cortes is expected to be activated by the New York Yankees for Friday’s opening game.
Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman will be in the starting lineup after missing Games 4 and 6 of the NL Championship Series due to a sprained right ankle.
“I can’t tell you I feel way better than I did six days ago,” Freeman said Thursday. “Playing in cleats and running, that’s a whole different story. It’s a sprained ankle. I’ve never dealt with one. They always say the first one is the worst.”
Vesia was not included on the NL Championship Series roster after injuring his intercostal muscles while warming up for the NL Division Series Game 5 against San Diego on October 11.
Rojas hasn’t played since Game 3 against the Padres on October 8 because of an adductor injury.
Right-hander Brusdar Graterol, who has been out since September 24 due to shoulder inflammation, also hopes to return.
“Everybody is trending in the right direction,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Thursday. “We’re going to have some more difficult conversations, which I think is a good thing.
I think Alex threw 15 pitches yesterday in a sim game, and the stuff looked good. Then Graterol has been throwing. I think he’s trending in the right direction. So I think that on the pitching side, we’re in a pretty good spot right now.”
Graterol had three scoreless appearances in the 2020 World Series against Tampa Bay. This season, he was limited to just seven games during the regular season.
Los Angeles plans to keep 13 pitchers and 13 position players on their roster. Roberts mentioned that Graterol’s month off will be taken into account.
“It’s part of the math. I think the other part is his track record in the postseason, how good he’s been, how good the heartbeat’s been,” Roberts said. “We believe in the person, the stuff.” Roberts was happy with Rojas’ progress.
“Yesterday he participated in the entire workout: running well, taking at-bats, catching grounders. Everything looks really good,” the manager said. “So I think there’s a really good possibility we’ll see him on the roster.”
Cortes hasn’t pitched in a game since September 18 due to a flexor strain in his pitching elbow. He threw two innings of batting practice at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone may choose 13 pitchers for his 26-man roster. “I still want to get through today with Nestor and see where we’re at,” he said.
