LOS ANGELES — Jeff McNeil has been included in the roster for the New York Mets as they prepare for the National League Championship Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers. This comes after McNeil’s recovery from a broken right wrist sustained when he was hit by a pitch from Cincinnati’s Brandon Williamson on September 6.

In his recent appearances in the Arizona Fall League, McNeil showcased his return to form, going 1 for 4 with a walk while playing second base on Friday and following that with 1 for 5 and an RBI single while playing right field on Saturday.

For the Dodgers, there are notable changes in their lineup as pitcher Alex Vesia and infielder Miguel Rojas were omitted from the roster for the upcoming series that kicks off on Sunday. In contrast, outfielder Kevin Kiermaier and pitcher Brent Honeywell have been added after missing the NL Division Series.

Vesia experienced rib cage cramping while warming up for the eighth inning during the team’s 2-0 victory over San Diego in Game 5 of the Division Series. An MRI revealed that he suffered an intercostal injury, raising concerns about his availability. Rojas is also facing challenges, as he has been dealing with a left thigh strain that caused him to miss the last two games against the Padres. Kiké Hernández stepped in for Rojas and delivered a strong performance, contributing three hits, including a solo home run in Game 5.

Kiermaier joined the Dodgers from Toronto just prior to the trade deadline on July 30, while Honeywell was picked up off waivers from Pittsburgh on July 13. The Dodgers currently have a balanced roster consisting of 13 pitchers and 13 position players trailing after the adjustments.

Meanwhile, the Mets retained rookie infielder Luisangel Acuña, who is the brother of famous Atlanta player Ronald Acuña Jr. The Mets’ setup includes 12 pitchers, marking a strategic move as they head into this critical series.