In a World Series, even the most seemingly insignificant advantages can be of great importance.

For the Los Angeles Dodgers, the few innings they now appear to be getting from left-hander Alex Vesia could be the difference between their eighth title and the New York Yankees' 28th.

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Restore the glory

After being left off the Dodgers' NL Championship Series roster due to a rib injury he suffered in the NL Division Series, Vesia told reporters Thursday that he has recovered.

“I definitely feel like I’ll be active on Friday,” said Vesia, who hasn’t had a problem with his team in over a week, according to The Orange County Register.

“I will give everything I have. I am very confident that I will be able to perform exactly as I have for most of the season.”

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Vesia suffered the injury in Game 5 of the NLDS on October 11th. The Dodgers were “hopeful” that Vesia's season wasn't over, according to president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman, but it remained doubtful. He has since pitched a simulated 15-pitch appearance against Dodgers hitters on Wednesday.

“I was a little wild, but I hadn't pitched in a few days so that was to be expected,” Vesia said. “Had no problem with anything. Landed sliders and threw the fastball well. And the more throws I had, the better it got.”

What makes this a crucial addition for the Dodgers? Fifty-seven of their 99 playoff innings (58%) have come to relievers as the Dodgers are without a bevy of starting pitchers and with starters failing to pitch deep in games. This will allow Dodgers manager Dave Roberts to mix up his pitchers better against the Yankees so they don't always see the same pitchers.

Without Vesia, Anthony Banda was the only left-handed hitter on the Dodgers' roster, who had a 3.08 ERA in 49 2/3 innings this season and was not as dominant as Vesia, who finished the year with a 1.76 ERA in 66 1/3 innings finished with 87 strikeouts (36.4% strikeout rate).

More importantly, in 105 plate appearances, Vesia neutralized lefties with a 1.44 batting average and a .549 OPS, striking out 32.4% of them, and he has leverage experience. Now healthy, Vesia will undoubtedly be included in the World Series to face Yankees left-handers like Juan Soto, Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Austin Wells, forcing Yankees manager Aaron Boone to make lineup decisions for Anthony Rizzo and Alex Verdugo.