Seager left off Dodgers’ NLCS roster
Shortstop Corey Seager was left off the Los Angeles Dodgers’ roster for the NLCS against the Chicago Cubs Saturday.
The Dodgers announced Seager’s surprise omission due to an apparent back injury several hours before Game 1 at Dodger Stadium.
Seager complained of back soreness during the Dodgers’ NL Division Series clincher in Arizona Monday after sliding into second base in the first inning.
The 2016 NL Rookie of the Year didn’t run or participate in team workouts this week, and he had an epidural shot Tuesday.
“It improved, but [not] enough to warrant him being out there,” manager Dave Roberts said. “It’s still sore. [Seager] hasn’t hit, hasn’t moved around, and to decide whether he can not only take the field but be effective out there, I think that we had to weigh everything.”
Los Angeles also dropped reliever Pedro Baez from its roster. Infielder Charlie Culberson and outfielder Joc Pederson were added.
Chicago made only one change from the last playoff round, adding right-handed reliever Hector Rondon and removing left-handed reliever Justin Wilson.
Astros
Jose Altuve, all 5 feet, 6 inches of him, is a favorite to be named AL MVP next month after collecting more than 200 hits and leading the American League in batting. But asked who he would vote for, he said it would be Yankees rookie slugger Aaron Judge, who hit an AL-high 52 home runs. Said Altuve: “Maybe in another life I want to be Aaron Judge and hit all those homers.” For the record, Altuve hasn’t done too badly in that department. He hit 24 home runs in the regular season and had a three-homer game in Game 1 of the ALDS against Boston.
Tigers
First baseman Miguel Cabrera has been sued by a Florida woman who alleges he isn’t paying enough to support two children he fathered with her. The legal fight could cost the two-time American League MVP up to $100,000 a month. Cabrera’s deposition is Thursday ... The Justin Verlander trade is officially complete. On Friday night, the Tigers announced the inclusion of outfielder Juan Ramirez as the previously mentioned “player to be named later” in the deal with Houston. Ramirez, 18, was signed out of the Dominican Republic two seasons ago.