LOS ANGELES — The Dodgers’ bullpen will be getting reinforcements for the World Series.
Left-hander Alex Vesia is expected to be back on the active roster after missing the National League Championship Series with a rib injury suffered during Game 5 of the Division Series against the San Diego Padres.
Vesia threw 15 pitches in a simulated inning against Dodgers’ hitters during the team’s workout on Wednesday. He said he had “no issues” with his injured side and hasn’t been bothered by it for over a week now.
“I definitely feel I will be active for Friday,” Vesia said Thursday.
“I’m going to give it everything I got. I feel very confident that I’ll be able to go out and perform exactly how I’ve been for the majority of the season.”
Vesia had a 1.76 ERA in a team-leading 67 appearances during the regular season then pitched three scoreless innings during the NLDS. He put the “simulated” in Wednesday’s simulated game, going through his gameday routine.
“Played catch at 5 o’clock, sat down for a little bit,” he said. “Tony Gonsolin was pitching as well. So I was mimicking that I got a phone call and was getting hot. Once his inning ended, I was good to go. Everything felt good. On the mound, getting my five to seven (warmup) throws usually. Hitter stepped in. From hitter No. 1, I was good.
“I was a little wild, but I hadn’t pitched in a couple days so that’s to be expected. Had no issues with anything. Landed sliders, threw the fastball well. And as I got more and more throws in, the better it got.”
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said right-hander Brusdar Graterol is “trending in the right direction” but he seems less likely to be added when the Dodgers submit their World Series roster Friday morning. Right-hander Joe Kelly is not an option to be on that roster but could be an option as an injury replacement if needed later in the Series. Both have been out with shoulder injuries.
ROJAS RETURN
Shortstop Miguel Rojas could also return to the active roster for the World Series against the Yankees.
He has been playing with a strained adductor muscle for weeks. He aggravated it during the NLDS and was left off the roster for the NLCS against the Mets. But Roberts said Rojas has made enough progress that “there’s a really good possibility we’ll see him on the roster” for the World Series.
Rojas participated in the full workout Wednesday and was “running well, taking at-bats, catching grounders. Everything looks really good,” Roberts said.
STILL NO
Roberts was asked again Thursday if there was any possibility that Shohei Ohtani might pitch during the World Series.
“There’s no possibility, none whatsoever,” Roberts said, then added the finishing touch he has adopted when answering questions about Ohtani pitching.
“Thank you for asking.”
Ohtani has not pitched since undergoing major elbow surgery last September while with the Angels. The two-way star was strictly a designated hitter for the Dodgers this season (while rehabbing his elbow) and is a virtual lock to win NL MVP after posting the first 50/50 season in MLB history.
Ohtani does not seem disappointed with the decision.
“I’ve never said to them that I wanted to pitch in the postseason,” Ohtani said through an interpreter.
TROJAN WAR
Yankees manager Aaron Boone (USC) and Roberts (UCLA) faced each other as players on opposite sides of that rivalry. Boone revisited the rivalry and poked at Roberts on Thursday.
“I’m a Trojan. So as we all know in here – you’re a Trojan for life, you’re a Bruin for four years,” Boone joked.
Roberts was asked for his response.
“Ouch. Ouch, that hurts,” he said. “We go way back. We’ve got a lot of history, but it’s all in fun. I’ve got nothing but love and respect for Aaron.”
Boone said he texted Roberts a Yankees logo when the team landed in Los Angeles on Wednesday night.
“There was another emoji I thought about sending him with one finger, but I didn’t,” Roberts joked. “I just gave a laughing emoji back.”
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The Yankees’ Game 1 starter, Gerrit Cole, pitched for UCLA and was caught in the crossfire.
“You know, Aaron and I don’t always agree on everything,” Cole said when Boone’s jibe was relayed to him.
R.I.P. FERNANDO
A number of players were asked about the death of Dodgers great Fernando Valenzuela this week and offered “thoughts and prayers” for both the Valenzuela family and his extended family with the Dodgers.
“I was really sad to read about it the other day,” Cole said.
“He’s one of the great Dodgers of all time, one of the great Mexican players of all time, and he’s a legend. It’s sad he won’t be here for this Series, but he’s probably got a great seat for it upstairs.”