LOS ANGELES — If anyone understands the value of a stolen base at a critical time in the postseason, it is Dave Roberts.
The Dodgers announced their 28-man roster for the best-of-three Wild Card Series on Wednesday and it includes a third catcher (rookie Keibert Ruiz) and pinch-running specialist Terrance Gore.
Gore was a non-roster invitee to spring training and spent most of the summer at the Dodgers’ alternate training site. He did get into two games with the Dodgers as a pinch-runner but did not steal a base or score a run. His major league career consists of 102 games but only 13 starts in the field. He has stolen 40 bases in 49 attempts plus 5 for 6 during the Kansas City Royals’ playoff runs in 2014 and 2015.
“With T-Gore, it was more of, we have the opportunity to carry an extra position player in the short series where … we don’t need the extra arms (in the bullpen),” Roberts said. “So to be able to place him in a spot — minus a run, even — to kind of impact an inning I think is very helpful.”
Ruiz made his big-league debut Aug. 16 and hit a home run in his first at-bat. He played in just two games before returning to the alternate training site. His addition makes it easier for the Dodgers to use Will Smith at designated hitter, as they are expected to do in Game 2 when Austin Barnes will likely start with Clayton Kershaw.
“If you look at Austin catching tomorrow, if there’s a situation where we don’t love the matchup and want somebody to hit for him, we still have that extra catcher,” Roberts said. “It just kind of gives me the flexibility to not overexpose ourselves with the catcher.”
Matt Beaty was also added to the roster for the series against the Milwaukee Brewers. Beaty hit .220 in 21 games with the Dodgers this season.
To make room for Gore, Ruiz and Beaty the Dodgers will not carry Gavin Lux, Alex Wood or Dylan Floro for the first round.
A popular preseason pick to win the National League Rookie of the Year award, Lux arrived late at Summer Camp for unspecified reasons and was never a factor. He did not join the Dodgers’ active roster until late August and the 22-year-old batted .175 in 19 games.
The exclusion of Lux and Wood was not surprising, but Floro, a right-hander, had spent all season with the Dodgers, appearing in 25 games (third on the team) and going 3-0 with a 2.59 ERA.
“That was a very difficult one,” Roberts said, calling the decision driven by matchups with the Brewers. “Dylan has the respect of everyone in the organization and he’s earned it. A lot of times I sit here and talk about performance matters, but in this case, ultimately he performed and still doesn’t have the opportunity. I do look forward to him, shall we advance, for him to continue to be on rosters going forward.
“He was upset and he had every right to be upset.”
BREWERS LOSE PITCHERS
The Brewers announced their roster for the series Wednesday morning as well, and it did not include two of their top starting pitchers — Corbin Burnes (oblique) and Brett Anderson (blister) — or bullpen weapon Devin Williams.
Williams developed shoulder pain after his most recent outing Friday against the St. Louis Cardinals.
“He pitched on Friday. He came in Saturday pretty sore,” Brewers manager Craig Counsell explained. “At that point, we shut him down. So he hadn’t thrown since Friday. He played some trial catch yesterday. He’s improving but not to the point we would consider having him pitch in a major-league game.
“We were going to lean on those guys (Burnes, Anderson and Williams) to pitch probably up to 50 percent of the innings in this series. We’ve got guys who can do it. It’s just the next set of guys have to step up. … And they’re ready for it.”
Williams was the most dominant pitcher in baseball this season. In 27 innings, he allowed just eight hits and one run while striking out 53 of the 100 batters he faced.
“It’s really crushing, honestly,” Williams said. “It’s a shame that the cards played out this way.”
PERSONAL PAIRING
The Dodgers’ decision to carry a third catcher was driven largely by their commitment to starting Barnes at catcher when Kershaw pitches. Smith’s offensive emergence means they will keep his bat in the lineup for those games by playing him at DH.
Barnes was behind the plate for nine of Kershaw’s 10 starts this season. Kershaw had a 1.86 ERA in those starts and held opposing hitters to a .193 average. In his only start with Smith behind the plate, Kershaw allowed four runs in five innings.
“I think Barnes has been awesome,” said Kershaw who will start Game 2 on Thursday. “I obviously think his skill level speaks for itself behind the plate, his ability to catch the baseball, block the baseball and things like that. He’s obviously the best skill-set wise.
“Yeah, there’s a relationship there. I’ve thrown to Barney for a long time, just like I threw to AJ (Ellis) and there’s a lot of similarities between the two guys. … Will’s been great too. I’ve loved throwing to Will as well and so we’re in a great spot.”
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