Anticipation builds for the NLCS as the Dodgers bolster their bullpen with Ben Casparius, confident in Will Smith’s health, and the Brewers introduce Tobias Myers, a multi-inning arm, to counter Los Angeles’ formidable lineup.
The stage is set for an enthralling National League Championship Series, and both the Los Angeles Dodgers and Milwaukee Brewers have wasted no time in making strategic adjustments to their rosters. As Game 1 approaches in Milwaukee, these calculated bullpen alterations highlight the intense tactical battle expected between two of the league’s top contenders.
Dodgers’ Bullpen Reinforcement and Catcher Confidence
The Los Angeles Dodgers have made a significant move by adding right-handed pitcher Ben Casparius to their bullpen for the NLCS. Casparius, who was not on the roster for the Wild Card Round or the NLDS, brings a 7-5 record with a 4.64 ERA and two saves from 46 regular season appearances (three starts). Notably, Casparius boasts postseason experience, having posted a 1.42 ERA in 6 1/3 playoff innings last year, including 4 1/3 scoreless innings in the NLCS, contributing to the Dodgers’ World Series title drive, as reported by Field Level Media.
To accommodate Casparius, the Dodgers removed rookie catcher Dalton Rushing from the roster. This decision reflects the team’s renewed confidence in veteran catcher Will Smith, who has fully recovered from a right hand injury that previously necessitated carrying three catchers through the initial playoff rounds. Rushing had only one at-bat in the NLDS, a strikeout, making his removal a logical step for a fully healthy roster.
The Dodgers’ pitching staff will also feature left-hander Justin Wrobleski, who was added during the NLDS after Tanner Scott became ineligible due to a surgical procedure. While Shohei Ohtani remains a formidable presence as the designated hitter and a rotational pitcher, he is not slated to start Game 1 or 2 of the NLCS, with Blake Snell and Yoshinobu Yamamoto taking the mound, respectively. Ohtani’s next start is anticipated when the series shifts to Los Angeles.
Veteran left-hander Clayton Kershaw is included on the roster, despite a challenging relief appearance in Game 3 of the NLDS where he allowed five runs (four earned) in two innings. Fans and analysts alike are keenly watching Kershaw, who is expected to retire at the end of the season, to see if he can find his rhythm in what could be his final postseason run.
Brewers Bolster Pitching Staff for Left-Handed Threats
The Milwaukee Brewers have also tweaked their pitching staff, bringing in right-hander Tobias Myers to replace fellow right-hander Nick Mears. Myers, who was not on the Brewers’ NLDS roster against the Chicago Cubs, finished the regular season with a 1-2 record and a 3.55 ERA over 22 appearances, including six starts. His previous season saw him go 9-6 with a 3.00 ERA while starting 25 of 27 appearances, showcasing his capability for extended relief outings.
The decision to remove Nick Mears, despite his three scoreless appearances (1 2/3 innings) in the NLDS and a regular season ERA of 3.49 over 63 relief outings, underscores Milwaukee’s strategic focus. Myers allowed a .369 slugging percentage to left-handed hitters in 96 plate appearances during the regular season, a more favorable matchup than Mears’s .417 against lefties in 95 plate appearances. This move appears aimed at neutralizing the Dodgers’ potent left-handed hitters, including Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman, and Max Muncy.
Milwaukee’s roster further benefits from the inclusion of left-hander Robert Gasser, who, despite only seven career major league appearances (two this season), offers an additional lefty arm. Gasser gave up two runs on five hits over two innings in Game 4 of the NLDS, but his presence, alongside Myers, provides the Brewers with four left-handers to counter Los Angeles’ dominant left-handed bats, a critical tactical advantage in a long series. Unfortunately for the Brewers, two-time All-Star pitcher Brandon Woodruff remains sidelined, recovering from a right lat strain, and is not on the NLCS roster.
NLCS Game 1: The Pitching Matchup and Early Implications
The NLCS is set to begin on Monday in Milwaukee, with the Dodgers and Brewers poised for a compelling battle. The early roster changes by both teams reflect a deep strategic game plan, emphasizing bullpen depth and matchup advantages from the very first pitch. The Dodgers, with Casparius’s postseason experience and Smith’s health, appear to be optimizing their relief corps while maintaining confidence in their core lineup. The Brewers, by bringing in Myers and leveraging Gasser, are clearly focused on mitigating the damage from Los Angeles’ left-handed power hitters.
These early adjustments set the tone for a series where every pitching decision and every bullpen arm could swing momentum. Fans can expect a high-intensity series, with both teams meticulously managing their pitching arsenals to gain an edge. The absence of a pivotal player like Woodruff for the Brewers places even more pressure on the newly added arms to perform under the bright lights of the Championship Series.