Predicting how the Dodgers’ playoff roster will look

Unkind cuts are coming -- at least you’d feel that way if you were the one being cut.

But there are no more of these inflated rosters once the playoffs begin; everyone goes back to playing with 25. And that’s plenty less than the 39 the Dodgers were playing with.

The Dodgers don’t have to submit their 25-man roster for the National League division series against the Mets until Friday morning, but Manager Don Mattingly said Wednesday that all decisions had been made and the players spoken with.

Because teams only need four starting pitchers -- if that -- in the best-of-five series, that opens an extra spot for a position player or added reliever. Here is my best guess on what the roster will look like for the first round:

Starting pitchers (four) -- Clayton Kershaw, Zack Greinke, Brett Anderson, Alex Wood.

Relievers (seven) -- Kenley Jansen, Luis Avilan, Chris Hatcher, J.P. Howell, Pedro Baez, Juan Nicasio, Joel Peralta.

Catchers (two) -- A.J. Ellis, Yasmani Grandal.

Infielders (six) -- Adrian Gonzalez, Howie Kendrick, Justin Turner, Corey Seager, Jimmy Rollins, Chase Utley.

Outfielders (six) -- Carl Crawford, Enrique Hernandez, Andre Ethier, Joc Pederson, Yasiel Puig, Justin Ruggiano.

Scott Van Slyke’s continued wrist soreness took him out of consideration, and avoided what would have been the toughest call -- Puig or Ruggiano? Puig (hamstring strain) has played two games in the last six weeks, and Ruggiano has been a force (.291/.350/.618) since arriving on the eve of the Aug. 31 trade deadline.

The Dodgers have three left-handed-hitting outfielders and three right-handed hitters. They have switch-hitting Rollins and Utley, who bats left to Kendrick’s right, at second. Utley could also play third if necessary.

“I think you want the most functional 25-man roster, and some of that for us is with the quality of starting pitching in this series, most people are expecting close games, low-scoring games,� said General Manager Farhan Zaidi. “So some of those complementary-type pieces come more into focus in situations like that.�

Peralta has been pitching better of late, and may get the final bullpen spot over Yimi Garcia.

What the roster won’t have is a designated rabbit. Despite the Dodgers attempt at a speed camp, no one emerged as a base-running specialist. Jose Peraza remains an outside possibility to be added should the Dodgers advance deeper in the playoffs, but he’s coming off a strained hamstring. For now, the reserves will also have to be the pinch runners.

“With the options we have right now, I don’t think we’re going to have a pure pinch-runner type,� Farhan said. “I think we have guys who can do that role, who are smart base-runners and can maybe do some other things off the bench. But probably not like a running specialist.�