Royals, Angels announce American League Divisional Series rosters

The Royals have announced their 25-man roster for the American League Division Series, which differs from the Wild Card round, and can change for each round of the playoffs. Playoff roster eligibility is explained here.

The Royals will add Jason Vargas, who will be the starting pitcher in Game One, but was left off the Wild Card roster. Also joining the roster will be left-handed reliever Tim Collins, who spent most of the year in Omaha after struggling early in the year. For the year, Collins had a 3.86 ERA in 21 innings, although just 6.4 strikeouts and 4.7 walks per nine innings. Collins has a reverse split against lefties in his career, with lefties hitting .224/.341/.362 against him. Brandon Finnegan is the only other lefty-reliever in the pen, unless Danny Duffy is now a relief pitcher.

The Royals drop from the roster outfielder Raul Ibanez, who did not appear in the Wild Card game, and infielder Jayson Nix, who struck out in his only plate appearance in the Wild Card game.

Catchers: Erik Kratz, Salvador Perez

Infielders: Billy Butler, Christian Colon, Alcides Escobar, Eric Hosmer, Omar Infante, Mike Moustakas

Outfielders: Nori Aoki, Lorenzo Cain, Jarrod Dyson, Alex Gordon, Terrance Gore, Josh Willingham

Pitchers: Tim Collins, Wade Davis, Danny Duffy, Brandon Finnegan, Jason Frasor, Jeremy Guthrie, Kelvin Herrera, Greg Holland, James Shields, Jason Vargas, Yordano Ventura

Here is the Angels roster:

Catchers: Hank Conger, Chris Ianetta

Infielders: Erick Aybar, Gordon Beckham, C.J. Cron, David Freese, Howie Kendrick, Efren Navarro, Albert Pujols

Outfielders: Kole Calhoun, Collin Cowgill, Josh Hamilton, Mike Trout

Pitchers: Jason Grilli, Kevin Jepsen, Mike Morin, Vinnie Pestano, Cory Rasmus, Fernando Salas, Hector Santiago, Matt Shoemaker, Joe Smith, Huston Street, Jered Weaver, C.J. Wilson

Notable omissions include lefty-specialist Joe Thatcher, infielder John McDonald, and outfielders Grant Green and Brennan Boesch. Josh Hamilton, who missed most of the month of September with a rib injury, returns to action tonight.