Corey Seager, Brandon McCarthy added to Dodgers World Series roster

LOS ANGELES — The Dodgers have Corey Seager back for the World Series, adding their All-Star shortstop back to the roster after he missed the NLCS with a back sprain.

Seager has been gradually adding baseball activities to his workload in recent days, and was a full participant in the Dodgers’ workouts the last two days at Dodger Stadium, taking ground balls, running the bases and hitting, both in batting practice and in simulated games.

“Every progression has gone smoothly, there have been no setbacks,” said Seager, who injured his back on a routine slide into second base in Game 3 of the NLDS.

Charlie Culberson filled in quite nicely for Seager in the NLCS, starting three of five games at shortstop in the last round — Chris Taylor shifted from center field to start the other two games at shortstop — making some stellar defensive plays while also going 5-for-11 (.455) with three extra-base hits at the plate. He remains on the roster for the World Series, with Seager a candidate to be the designated hitter when the series shifts to Houston.

“It’s a great feeling to know you have amazing depth. Players of Charlie Culberson’s character and Chris Taylor’s character to pick up a guy like Seager,” manager Dave Roberts said. “It’s not easy to replace Corey.”

The Dodgers are also back to 12 pitchers for the World Series, adding Brandon McCarthy to the bullpen. More on that later.

The roster casualties for adding Seager and McCarthy are Kyle Farmer and Curtis Granderson.

Farmer appeared in five of eight games in the first two rounds, going 0-for-4 with a sacrifice fly, all as a pinch hitter. This move leaves the Dodgers with two catchers instead of three for the World Series.

Granderson was just 1-for-15 with eight strikeouts this postseason, after hitting .161/.288/.366 in 36 games during the regular season following an August trade from the Mets.

“Just having Joc, a left-handed bat, Andre, who has come off the bench, Joc to be able to play all three outfield spots, and just the thought of Corey’s back and just the coverage that we have with Kiké and Taylor, we felt good with that,” manager Dave Roberts said. “Obviously just the at-bats that Curtis has taken over the last month, haven’t been to what, I know, he would expect.

“The decisions that we have to make aren't always easy, but I think that a lot of conversations and trying to figure out what's our best 25-man roster to beat the Houston Astros, and we made that decision. And again just a credit to him and his character that he was supportive.”