MLB Player News

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that Knack will serve as a bulk reliever Monday in Game 2 of the NLCS versus the Mets, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Ryan Brasier will be the opener for the Dodgers, with Knack in line to record "most of the outs," per Roberts. Knack made one one-inning relief appearance during the NLDS against the Padres but operated as either a traditional starter or bulk reliever in all 15 of his appearances during the regular season, collecting a 3.65 ERA and 69:18 K:BB over 69 frames.

Brasier will be the Dodgers' opening pitcher Monday in Game 2 of the NLCS against the Mets, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Brasier also served as an opener in Game 4 of the NLDS versus the Padres, tossing 1.1 scoreless innings. Landon Knack is in line for bulk relief on Tuesday against the Mets.

Nimmo revealed Sunday that he's dealt with plantar fasciitis in his left foot since May and aggravated the injury recently in Game 3 of the NLDS, Tim Britton of The Athletic reports.

Nimmo noted that the foot doesn't really bother him while hitting or throwing in the outfield, but running causes discomfort. "I think when I really need it, I'm probably not 100 percent, but I can get going pretty good," he said. "But it's uncomfortable." Nimmo plans to continue playing through the injury during the NLCS and the World Series, should the Mets advance. He's slashing .241/.353/.345 with one home run in eight contests this postseason.

Buehler isn't expected to pitch in Game 2 of the NLCS on Monday as the Dodgers opt for a bullpen game, David Vassegh of AM 570 LA Sports reports.

Manager Dave Roberts said that the Dodgers' bullpen usage in Game 1 would determine whether Buehler would start Game 2. With Jack Flaherty throwing seven scoreless innings in the series opener, the Dodgers have the luxury of throwing a bullpen game Monday. Buehler will likely slot in as the team's Game 3 starter, though that hasn't been confirmed.

Lux was removed from Sunday's Game 1 of the NLCS due to hip flexor tightness, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports.

Lux talked to a trainer after grounding out in the sixth inning and didn't take the field to start the seventh frame. It's now known he's battling hip flexor soreness, which likely means he'll be tabbed day-to-day. Regardless of his health, the lefty-hitting Lux isn't likely to be in the lineup for Game 2 against southpaw Sean Manaea and the Mets.

Lux (undisclosed) was seen talking to a trainer in the dugout after grounding out in the sixth inning of Sunday's Game 1 of the NLCS before exiting the game in the top of the seventh, Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times reports.

It's unclear why Lux was lifted from the contest, but his conversations with a trainer could indicate it's injury-related. Kevin Kiermaier replaced Lux in the lineup and stepped into center field while Enrique Hernandez shifted to second base. Lux went 0-for-1 with a walk and a run scored before leaving.

Manager Dave Roberts explained Sunday that Buehler's likelihood of starting Game 2 of the NLCS versus the Mets could depend on how heavily the team deploys the bullpen in Game 1, Eric Stephen of SBNation.com reports.

Jack Flaherty will take the mound for the Dodgers in Game 1 on Sunday, and it sounds like Los Angeles will try to get decent depth from him. If the right-hander isn't able to go very deep and the bullpen gets heavy use, it appears the Dodgers will start Buehler on Monday in Game 2. On the other hand, if the bullpen is mostly spared in Game 1, Los Angeles may opt for a bullpen game Monday -- a strategy that was key in helping the team come back from a 2-1 deficit against San Diego in the NLDS. Buehler started Game 3 in that series and took the loss, allowing six runs on seven hits and one walk without striking out a batter over five frames.

Ottavino is not part of New York's roster for the National League Championship series against the Dodgers.

Ottavino had a rough regular season by his standards, posting a 4.34 ERA and 1.29 WHIP over 60 appearances. He saw few high-leverage opportunities in the second half of the campaign and notched just one hold over his final 20 games. Ottavino's omission from the NLCS roster makes room for the return of Jeff McNeil (wrist), who was added to the roster after ending the regular season on the injured list.

McNeil (wrist) is part of New York's roster for the National League Championship Series versus the Dodgers.

McNeil ended the campaign on the 10-day injured list due to a wrist injury, but he logged at-bats in the Arizona Fall League on Friday and Saturday in preparation for returning for the series versus Los Angeles. His inclusion on the Mets' roster means New York will carry one more hitter than they did in the NLDS against Philadelphia, as reliever Adam Ottavino was left off the roster to make room for McNeil. It's likely that McNeil will work as a lefty bat off the bench during the NLCS.

Kiermaier (finger) is included on Los Angeles' roster for the NLCS versus the Mets, Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Kiermaier dislocated his left ring finger late in the regular season and wasn't part of the Dodgers' NLDS victory over San Diego, but he's apparently now healthy and ready to play. The veteran outfielder came to Los Angeles at the trade deadline in a deal with Toronto, and over 34 contests with Los Angeles he posted a .203/.242/.322 slash line to go along with one home run, eight RBI, seven runs and a stolen base. Kiermaier announced earlier in the campaign that this will be his final season in the majors, and he'll have a chance to contribute to a World Series push as a reserve outfielder who is still capable of playing excellent defense.