Dodgers reliever Alex Vesia dealing with personal matter

Toronto — alex vesiaone of the following los angeles dodgers‘The most reliable reliever is dealing with a personal matter that has put his World Series availability in doubt.

As part of a statement Thursday, the Dodgers wrote that Vescia “is away from the team as he and his wife Kayla deal with an extremely personal family matter.”

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts did not provide additional details while addressing reporters moments later, although he did say that the team is “going through the process of trying to fill his spot back on the roster”. toronto blue jays,

World Series rosters must be in by 10 a.m. Friday (ET), the day of Game 1, from Rogers Center. But Major League Baseball also has a family medical emergency list that requires a minimum of three days and a maximum of seven days off from the roster. If the Dodgers use that designation with Vescia, he could technically return to Dodger Stadium as early as Game 3.

Vesia was one of the few bright spots in the beleaguered bullpen this season, posting a 3.02 ERA and 0.99 WHIP with 80 strikeouts and 22 walks in 59⅔ innings. And throughout the playoffs, Vessia, a 29-year-old left-hander in his sixth season, has been Roberts’ most reliable late-game option other than the right-hander. blake trainin and starter-turn-closer roki sasaki,

Vesia’s absence could create an opportunity tanner scottThe veteran lefty who struggled in the first season of a four-year, $72 million contract. Scott was removed from the roster midway through the National League Division Series after nursing a lower body abscess, a move that ruled him out for the upcoming NL Championship Series. But Scott has since resumed throwing bullpen and said earlier this week that he is feeling “much better now.”

Another leftist, anthony bandaHas also re-emerged as a reliable late-game option. But most of the Blue Jays’ best hitters– Vladimir Guerrero Jr., george springer, ernie clement And alejandro kirk Specifically – swing with the right hand, making players like Sasaki, Trenin and Emmett Sheehan This is even more important in this series.

Roberts said Thursday the Dodgers will move on clayton kershaw on their World Series roster and said he would “most likely” pitch tyler glasnow and in game 3 shohei ohtani In Game 4 (following) blake snell And yoshinobu yamamoto in games 1 and 2, respectively). But Roberts remained vague on Vesia’s status.

“Honestly,” he said, “I think we’re really just going day by day with no expectations.”