The Los Angeles Dodgers got the kind of news that can change the entire feel of a championship chase. Miguel Rojas, the veteran infielder whose back seized up during the National League Division Series, is not expected to be sidelined for the National League Championship Series. Manager Dave Roberts shared that hopeful update with reporters on Saturday, Oct. 10, just one day before the Dodgers were set to open a best-of-seven series against the Milwaukee Brewers. The optimism wasn’t blind faith. Rojas had already taken ground balls and participated in batting practice on Friday, Oct. 9, and looked good enough doing it that the Dodgers’ dugout allowed itself a long exhale. “Today was encouraging,” Roberts said after the workout, calling it “a step in the right direction.” For a team with World Series expectations, having a steady, reliable presence like Rojas available is more than a roster bonus. It’s a calming force in a clubhouse full of superstars and young players trying to navigate the chaos of October. Back injuries are notoriously tricky, especially for a 37-year-old whose value comes from quick reactions and smooth infield play. But the fact that Rojas was moving well, fielding grounders and swinging freely gave the Dodgers real reason to believe he could be in the lineup or at least on the bench when the NLCS begins.
The injury timeline explains why everyone was holding their breath. Rojas hasn’t played since he was forced out of Game 3 of the NLDS on Tuesday in Atlanta. He appeared to aggravate the problem while fielding a ground ball off the bat of Ronald Acuña Jr. in the fifth inning. At first, he tried to play through it, which is exactly what you’d expect from a gritty veteran in the middle of a playoff series. But by the time he stepped to the plate in the eighth inning, the discomfort had become too much. He was removed from the game, and the Dodgers immediately shifted into cautious mode. He sat out Wednesday as the Dodgers closed out the four-game series victory over Atlanta, punching their ticket to a third consecutive NLCS appearance. Those extra days of rest and treatment were always going to be crucial, and the fact that Rojas was able to do real baseball activity Friday suggests he’s turning a corner. Still, the team is being careful not to rush anything. Back spasms and strains can flare up again with one awkward movement, and no amount of regular-season grit can help you if you’re not physically ready for postseason intensity. The Dodgers know they need him, but they also know they need him healthy enough to stay on the field.
Now comes the harder part: fitting everyone into a roster that’s about to get a little more crowded. Roberts said the team planned to use the days before Sunday’s opener to evaluate Rojas rather than make an immediate decision about his status. That’s not just caution about his body; it’s also a numbers game. For the longer championship series, the Dodgers intend to add a 13th pitcher to the roster, which means at least one position player from the Division Series roster will have to be dropped. That’s an uncomfortable but necessary decision, and Rojas’ health plays directly into it. If he’s healthy enough to contribute, he stays, and someone else loses a spot. If not, the Dodgers may need to find another infielder who can handle the pressure of October. Emmett Sheehan and Justin Wrobleski, both of whom started for much of the regular season but also worked in relief, are the most likely candidates to join the pitching staff. That means the front office and coaching staff have to weigh the value of extra bullpen arms against the need for position-player depth. It’s the kind of chess move that can define a postseason, and the uncertainty around Rojas makes it even more delicate.
What makes Rojas so valuable in this particular matchup is the way he handles left-handed pitching. Among all Dodgers hitters with at least 20 at-bats against lefties during the regular season, only Teoscar Hernández had a better batting average than Rojas, who hit .293 against southpaws. That might not sound like a headline-grabbing number, but in a seven-game series, where every matchup is magnified, it’s exactly the kind of steady, contact-oriented bat that wins games in the late innings. Rojas struck out only 18 times against left-handed pitchers this year in 147 at-bats. That’s almost absurdly disciplined. He doesn’t chase. He doesn’t try to do too much. He puts the ball in play and lets the game come to him. Against a Brewers pitching staff that will likely use several tough lefties in high-leverage spots, having Rojas available off the bench as a pinch-hitting specialist could be a quiet difference-maker. He’s not the kind of player who will hit a 450-foot home run to change a game with one swing, but he can grind out an at-bat, move a runner, and give the Dodgers a professional approach when they need it most.
The timing of his potential return is even more important because some of the Dodgers’ biggest bats have gone cold at the worst possible moment. Will Smith and Shohei Ohtani combined to go just 3 for 29 with 11 strikeouts against the Braves in the Division Series. That kind of slump is almost impossible to predict, especially for hitters of that caliber, but it’s a reminder that October doesn’t care about regular-season numbers. Even the best players in the world can go through a rough stretch, and when they do, a team needs other guys who can step in and produce. That’s where Rojas fits in. He’s not going to be asked to carry the lineup. But he can provide a reliable at-bat against a tough lefty, give a struggling star a breather, and play solid defense late in games when the score is tight. His veteran presence in the clubhouse matters too. In a series that could easily go the distance, having a calm, experienced voice who has been through playoff battles before can help settle everyone else down. The Dodgers have plenty of talent, but talent alone doesn’t win championships. Sometimes it takes a player like Rojas doing the little things right to push a team over the top.
There’s still no guarantee he’ll be fully ready by Sunday. Back injuries are unpredictable, and the Dodgers will likely test him again in the hours leading up to the first pitch. But the fact that he was out there taking ground balls and swinging the bat just days after being unable to finish a game is a sign that his body is responding to treatment. The Dodgers have the depth to survive without him, but they’re clearly better with him. If he’s on the roster, he gives the manager another weapon. If he’s not, they’ll have to make do, but the news from Saturday suggests they might not have to face that reality. For a team that has spent the entire season focused on one goal, getting a key piece back at the right moment feels like a small victory in itself. The Brewers will be waiting, and the Dodgers know they’ll need every healthy body they can get. For now, Miguel Rojas is trending in the right direction, and that’s more than enough reason for Los Angeles to feel good as the NLCS begins. For more MLB news, visit Newsweek Sports.
