Los Angeles Dodgers reliever Alex Vesia shut the door on the Cubs in a 6-3 win on Wednesday. He pitched a scoreless ninth inning where he allowed one walk, one hit, and struck out one. The bulk of the save chances in 2025 figure to go to Tanner Scott and Kirby Yates, but Vesia should pick up a handful of his own. In this case, Scott had been used the previous day in the ninth, and Yates was used Wednesday in the 8th. Vesia was one of the most dominant relievers in baseball in 2024, posting a 1.76 ERA and 1.00 WHIP with 87 strikeouts in 66.1 innings. He should continue to see plenty of high-leverage usage, but the crowded bullpen makes him more useful for fantasy leagues that reward holds.

The Los Angeles Dodgers and left-handed reliever Alex Vesia avoided salary arbitration on Wednesday by settling on a one-year, $2.25 million guarantee deal that includes a club option for the 2026 season, according to a source. Vesia filed at $2.35 million, and the Dodgers countered at $2.05 million earlier this month. He'll be paid $2.25 million this year and has a $3.55 million club option that includes a $50,000 buyout. Vesia can make up to $3.75 million based on appearances. Although the 28-year-old southpaw isn't going to see any save chances in a loaded Dodgers bullpen, he should still feature in high-leverage situations in late innings based on matchups after he was lights-out in L.A. last year. In his fourth season with the Dodgers in 2024, he held a career-best 1.76 ERA, a career-high five saves, 0.99 WHIP and a career-high 87 K's in 66 1/3 innings.

Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitchers Alex Vesia (ribs) and Brusdar Graterol (shoulder), and infielder Miguel Rojas (hernia) are all on the team's roster for the World Series. Vesia hurt his rib cage in the NLDS and was left off the roster for the NLCS, but is ready to rock and will likely be used in high-leverage situations against lefties Juan Soto and Jazz Chisholm. Graterol (shoulder) hasn't pitched since landing on the IL in late September with right-shoulder inflammation, but has been working his way back and should be used in a high-leverage role after a dominant regular season. Rojas has already said he will need offseason surgery to repair a sports hernia, but will play through the injury and try to provide the Dodgers with stellar defense when he plays. Kevin Kiermaier, Evan Phillips (arm fatigue), and ... [More]

Los Angeles Dodgers left-handed reliever Alex Vesia (ribs) said he threw 15 pitches during a simulated game on Wednesday and felt good on Thursday morning. Vesia said his fastball velocity might have been down one mph but that adrenaline should be able to get him by. "When the lights come on Friday, I'll be ready to go," Vesia said. The 28-year-old southpaw injured his rib cage while warming up in the National League Division Series against the San Diego Padres and wasn't on the roster for the NL Championship Series versus the New York Mets. However, after bouncing back nicely after facing live hitters this week, it seems likely he'll be back on the roster for the World Series, where he'll operate in a late-inning role out of the bullpen. Vesia tossed three shutout innings in the NLDS in his three appearances with one walk and four K's.

Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that left-handed reliever Alex Vesia (ribs) was scheduled to throw to live hitters either on Tuesday or Wednesday. Both Vesia and right-handed reliever Brusdar Graterol (shoulder) will be last-minute decisions as far as being included on the World Series roster for Game 1 this Friday at Dodger Stadium. Vesia injured his rib cage warming up in Game 5 of the National League Division Series against the San Diego Padres and was removed from the roster for the NL Championship Series against the New York Mets as a result. The 28-year-old southpaw threw three scoreless innings with a walk and four strikeouts in his three playoff appearances before getting hurt. Graterol has been on the injured list since Sept. 26 and is more of a long shot to make the World Series roster than Vesia.

Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Alex Vesia (ribs) is unlikely to be available for the NLCS due to a intercostal injury, according to Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic. Vesia suffered an injury in Game 5 of the NLDS and will now face an uphill battle to pitch in the NLCS. DFS managers should monitor the official roster later this evening. The 28-year-old logged three innings of relief during the NLDS and allowed just one hit and one walk without surrendering a run. He struck out four. During the season, the southpaw posted a strong 1.76 ERA and 0.99 ERA across 66 1/3 innings of work. Under the hood, he boasted a 33.1% strikeout rate and 2.81 xERA, both well above the average marks. If he is unavailable to pitch, Blake Treinen, Daniel Hudson, Evan Phillips, and Michael Kopech will handle the high-leverage work for Los Angeles.

Los Angeles Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said that left-handed reliever Alex Vesia's back flared up on him, which is why he was pulled during the Game 5 win over the division-rival San Diego Padres in the National League Division Series on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. Vesia will be further evaluated, but at this time it's uncertain if he'll be healthy enough to be included on the roster for the NL Championship Series against the New York Mets, which begins on Sunday in LA. The 28-year-old came in to get the final out of the seventh inning on Friday but was then pulled while warming up to pitch the eighth inning. Vesia has been a key late-inning setup main out of the Dodgers' bullpen this year, so not having him in the NLCS would be notable. In his three appearances in the NLDS against SD, Vesia tossed three shutout frames with one walk and four strikeouts.