Dodgers’ Miguel Rojas tests his hip as NLCS roster hopes hinge on Sunday

The Dodgers are monitoring the status of veteran infielder Miguel Rojas as the National League Championship Series approaches, with Rojas taking ground balls and hitting in a few rounds of batting practice during the team’s workout at Dodger Stadium on Friday. The session was aimed at answering a single question, whether the back-and-hip pain he sustained on Tuesday in Atlanta has calmed enough for him to be available for the start of the NLCS on Sunday.

Rojas’ availability matters because the Dodgers’ postseason lineup decisions often turn on who can play multiple infield spots with enough comfort to handle the physical demands of consecutive high-leverage games. In the playoffs, there is less margin for a player to limit his range or feel discomfort on throws, footwork, or pivots, especially at positions where quick transitions are routine.

According to the report, Rojas was still nursing the hip pain after the injury occurred during the Dodgers’ time in Atlanta. Friday’s workout reflected that he was making progress in his day-to-day recovery, but it also underscored the uncertainty that typically surrounds an active hip issue late in the postseason timeline.

The Dodgers’ approach on Friday did not frame the work as a guarantee, but rather as a test. The description focused on him taking ground balls and hitting in limited rounds of batting practice, which is commonly how teams evaluate readiness under game-speed conditions without overstressing a player whose availability is not yet fully resolved.

Rojas is a known clubhouse and lineup presence for a team that has leaned on veteran experience and versatile defensive options throughout the year. In the postseason, managers frequently have to balance matchups at the infield with the need for reliable at-bats and strong defensive execution, so a single player’s health can change how a team constructs late-game substitutions and infield alignments.

For now, the next step is straightforward, the Dodgers will continue to assess Rojas’ hip response between Friday’s workout and Sunday’s roster decision. The key will be whether his comfort holds through normal movement and baseball actions, not just in a controlled practice setting, and whether the team is able to remove any doubt about his ability to contribute immediately.

If Rojas is cleared, the Dodgers would add a veteran option who can help stabilize their infield rotation and provide flexibility for manager Dave Roberts’ game-to-game planning. If he is not, the Dodgers will need to pivot toward the next available infield option, keeping in mind that postseason rosters tighten quickly once the series begins.