LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Dodgers bullpen will be missing a crucial piece from its arsenal in the World Series.
The team’s roster announced Friday did not include reliever Evan Phillips, whose outing in the clinching Game 6 of the National League Championship Series was cut short over injury concerns.
While Phillips was replaced on the roster by fellow right-hander Brusdar Graterol, who was out one month with a shoulder injury, the loss of Phillips deletes a crucial piece of the Dodgers’ postseason bullpen alignment.
He has been perfect in this postseason, giving up no runs in 6 ⅔ innings across five games, including a pair of wins in two Dodgers ‘bullpen games,’ manned entirely by relievers.
Phillips said Thursday he believed that his removal from Game 6 after an inning – the Dodgers planned to have him go two – was wise and likely preserved him for the World Series, and that he expected to be on the roster.
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But Dodgers president Andrew Friedman explained before Game 1 that Phillips wasn’t progressing the way the team hoped.
‘Each day has gotten better … first and foremost, we’re not going to put him in harm’s way,’ Friedman said. ‘And the way the Major League Baseball injury rule is written, we wouldn’t be able to replace him in that it was something that was preexisting.’
The Dodgers also welcomed back lefty reliever Alex Vesia (oblique) and shortstop Miguel Rojas (adductor), who both missed the NLCS.
‘Obviously not having Evan available for this series certainly is disappointing,’ Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said before Game 1. ‘But being able to add Brusdar and Alex to this roster is a huge addition. I think they match up well with this ballclub, and they’ve got experience. ‘
The Yankees added lefty Nestor Cortes to their roster, replacing infielder Jon Berti.
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