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LOS ANGELES — Corey Seager is back on the Dodgers roster for the World Series, and he’s back in the starting lineup for Game 1 against the Astros, albeit in an unfamiliar spot.
Seager is batting sixth for the Dodgers on Tuesday night, his first game in 15 days.
“It was more of he hadn’t played in two weeks, and obviously to give him an opportunity to kind of ease into the game a little bit,” Dave Roberts said. “Dallas Keuchel puts the lefty on the ground a lot. It gives us a chance to spread out the two lefties in our lineup, and just adds length throughout the lineup.”
Seager batted second in all 135 of his starts during the regular season, and will hit in that spot again in Game 2.
World Series Game 1 lineup
| Pos | Astros | Pos | Dodgers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pos | Astros | Pos | Dodgers |
| CF | Springer | CF | Taylor |
| 3B | Bregman | 3B | Turner |
| 2B | Altuve | 1B | Bellinger (L) |
| SS | Correa | RF | Puig |
| 1B | Gurriel | LF | Hernandez |
| C | McCann (L) | SS | Seager (L) |
| LF | Gonzalez | 2B | Forsythe |
| RF | Reddick (L) | C | Barnes |
| P | Keuchel (L) | P | Kershaw (L) |
He has hit lower than fifth in just 17 of his 327 major league starts (5.2%), including the playoffs. The last time, before Game 1 of this World Series, that he hit lower than fifth was May 23, 2016, batting sixth against the Reds.
Austin Barnes starts for the Dodgers in Game 1 against the left-handed Keuchel, Barnes’ seventh start in nine postseason games. Roberts wouldn’t say who would start Game 2, against the right-handed Justin Verlander.
“We'll deal with tomorrow, tomorrow,” Roberts said.
Houston roster
The Astros, like the Dodgers are carrying 13 position players and 12 pitchers on their World Series roster. They are using the same roster as they used in the ALCS.
Jake Marisnick, recovering from a thumb injury, was not added.
“He’ll be an injury fill-in, if needed. Right now there’s not enough time to get him ready, enough for us to feel comfortable, especially in a National League game,” manager A.J. Hinch said. “His thumb is healed, he’s throwing, he’s feeling good. He hasn’t hit enough to be an option off the bench in a National League-style game.”