Chase Utley may have played his final baseball game.
The Los Angeles Dodgers on Thursday announced their 25-man roster for the NLDS and Utley isn't on it.
Here is the Dodgers' 25-man roster for the NLDS. #LADetermined pic.twitter.com/A3tv0dfUCo— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) October 4, 2018
Each team sets its roster before each series. Utley could play in the NLCS or World Series should the Dodgers advance. However, if nobody hits the disabled list during the NLDS and Los Angeles doesn't advance, Utley will already have played his final game, as he announced this will be his final season.
While you can't fault the Dodgers from the standpoint of Utley's recent run at the plate (he was 0 for 18 in the month of September), they will be missing out on what he brings to the dugout in terms of intangibles and should they need someone with his baseball savvy to run the bases or play the field.
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People, mostly Phillies fans, are not happy about it.
Yous did Chase Utley dirty https://t.co/56atsjxO2F— Justin Kelly (@JustinFromSWP) October 4, 2018
Chase Utley not on the Dodgers #Postseason roster is unacceptable— RJ Smith (@r_Jsmith) October 4, 2018
did you hear that large cracking noise? Yeah that was my heart. No Chase Utley 😢💔 https://t.co/5fGAQQ9WRR— bri (@feeldaBRIze) October 4, 2018
it breaks my heart to not see chase utley on here but it makes sense.
somebody please hold me for the next 27 days. https://t.co/RPwbgt8LpV— Michael (@handmodelLA) October 4, 2018
If you're looking for someone to root for, the Dodgers did include the recently acquired Ryan Madson, despite significant struggles, for the series against the Braves, which begins tonight.
If this is it for Utley, it's an abrupt end to what was otherwise a tremendous MLB career.
