Left-handed reliever Alex Vesia is away from the Los Angeles Dodgers while dealing with a “deeply personal family matter,” the team announced on Thursday, and will miss at least the first two games of the World Series.
“The entire Dodgers organization is sending our thoughts to the Vesia family,” the Dodgers said in a statement, “and we will provide an update at a later date.”
Per USA Today, Vesia and his wife, Kayla, have been expecting their first child.
Vesia, 29, is a key component of the Dodgers’ bullpen, posting a 3.86 ERA over seven appearances this postseason. Whether he returns during the Fall Classic remains to be seen.
“I think right now we’re in the mode of trying to understand the process, the rules, a way that we could sort of try to navigate the roster,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told reporters. “I think we have a little bit of time, 10:00 (a.m. ET on Friday) or something like that, to finalize our roster, but yeah, we’re going through the process of trying to backfill his spot on the roster.
“Honestly … I think we’re just going day to day with really no expectations.”
With World Series rosters due by Friday morning ahead of Game 1 in Toronto, the Dodgers could place Vesia on the family medical emergency list. If they go that route, Vesia would be required to sit out a minimum of three days and a maximum of seven days, meaning he could potentially be back for Game 3 in Los Angeles.
Vesia, who delivered a 3.02 ERA and five saves in 68 regular-season appearances, could be replaced by fellow southpaw reliever Tanner Scott, who has yet to pitch this postseason.
In the first year of a four-year, $72 million contract, the 31-year-old Scott struggled en route to a 4.74 ERA and lost his closer role to Roki Sasaki. Scott recently underwent a procedure for an abscess on his lower body, but told reporters this week that he felt “a lot better now” and has resumed throwing bullpen sessions.
