Trying to predict the Dodgers 25-man postseason roster ranks right up there with trying to pick the six winning Powerball numbers.

Ok, maybe not quite that remote, but you get the point. And although none of us will know for sure who the lucky 25 will be until rosters are officially released at 10 a.m. PT in advance of Thursday’s 5:37 p.m. PT NLDS Game-1 scheduled start time, it is generally a safe bet that many (most) of the guys who received September 1 call-ups when rosters were expanded will be among the first to go … generally.

“They just kind of told me to stay ready,” said an optimistic Zac Rosscup, who was picked up off waivers by the Dodgers from the Colorado Rockies on July 11.

Likewise for 38-year-old right-hander Ryan Madson.

“Today just dragged, waiting to hear,” said Madson during Wednesday’s team workout at Dodger Stadium. “The time of my career, it’s like, eh, there’s a lot of question marks. In 2015 spring training, when I was trying to come back (from injuries) and I didn’t know literally the next day [what] was in store, it kind of reminds me of that time. That was January, February, March. At least this is just one day.”

In his nine relief appearances with the Dodgers, Madson was 0-0 with a 6.48 ERA. Not exactly what you would call playoff roster-worthy numbers. (Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

To be brutally honest, the chances that either will make the Dodgers 25-man NLDS roster – which can be altered after each playoff round – are in the Powerball category. Instead, they, and a number of other Dodgers pitchers and position players, will head over to Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Arizona as part of what is appropriately called the ‘stay hot squad.’

“It’s not pins and needles,” said popular Dodgers back-up outfielder Alex Verdugo. “If I’m on the roster, I’m on the roster. If not, probably go to Arizona and stay hot just in case I have to come back up. For me, it’s just handle what I can control day by day.”

2018 marked the second consecutive season that fan-favorite Alex Verdugo was called up to the Dodgers. That said, he has yet to appear in a postseason game with them. (Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

Such might not be the case with guys named Yimi Garcia, Tony Cingrani, Pat Venditte and John Axford, whose lockers were in various stages of being cleared out during Wednesday’s final pre-NLDS workout. And even though Rosscup and JT Chargois did workout with the team, they, too, will most likely be handed a lottery ticket on Thursday morning.

With the Dave Roberts-led Dodgers (under the direction of analytics and sabermetrics-driven Andrew Friedman / Farhan Zaidi) likely to continue to play the same platoon-driven / lefty-righty match-up game that got them here, guys like Kyle Farmer, Andrew Toles, Verdugo, and perhaps even veteran Chase Utley and former World Series hero David Freese are probably long shots to make the playoff team. And while the same may be true for speedster Tim Locastro, whose sole job after his September 1 call-up was that as a pinch-runner, having a speedy pinch-runner on your bench during the postseason is a very valuable commodity.

So, who’s in and who’s out?

Stay tuned…