Before the NLDS began, the Los Angeles Dodgers had many difficult roster decisions to make. At the trade deadline, the Dodgers acquired veteran infielder Amed Rosario essentially to hit left-handed pitching. With the way the Diamondbacks roster was built, Rosario wasn’t likely to get many opportunities to be effective in the short five game series.
Before Game 1, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts explained the thinking behind the surprising roster decision.
“It was a tough one,” Roberts said of the decision. “It was more driven by the fact that we have Kiké [Hernandez] and [Chris Taylor] that are versatile players from the right side and having Amed, without a left-handed starter going for them, he was a little redundant.