SEAGER LEFT OFF DODGERS’ ROSTER AFTER BACK INJURY
ANGELES» All-star shortstop LOS Corey Seager was left off the Dodgers’ roster for the NL Championship Series against the Cubs due to a back injury.
The Dodgers announced Seager’s surprise omission several hours before Game 1 at Dodger Stadium on Saturday night. Charlie Culberson, who had 15 plate appearances in the major leagues this season, replaced Seager in the lineup.
Seager complained of back soreness during the Dodgers’ NL Division Series clincher in Arizona on 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.”
Instead, Seager likely can’t play again this season unless the Dodgers reach their first World Series since 1988. Seager theoretically could be added back to the NLCS roster if a teammate was seriously injured, but Roberts downplayed that possibility before Game 1.
Gonzalez gives, gets delivery. HOUSTON» Marwin Gonzalez capped his big game in Houston’s win over the Yankees in Game 1 of the AL Championship Series with an even bigger moment.
Soon after wrapping up a game where he made a runsaving outfield assist in Houston’s 2-1 victory, he dashed to the hospital to be there for the birth of his third child.
Manager A.J. Hinch said the boy was born to Gonzalez and his wife, Noel, in the early morning hours on Saturday. It’s his second son, and his oldest child is a daughter.
“Pretty good night for him,” Hinch said.
Hinch added that Gonzalez dropped his wife off at the hospital before heading to the game and returned there when it was over.
“He’s been playing every game knowing it was pretty close,” Hinch said. “They thought the other day while we were in Boston for Game 3 and 4 that they would have the baby while he was gone. So she was pretty miserable.”
In Friday night’s game, the Astros led 2-0 when Greg Bird singled to start the fifth and Matt Holliday reached when Jose Altuve dropped his slow bouncer to second for an error. Aaron Judge singled with two outs and Gonzalez, throwing with such force that he fell to the ground, made a 97 mph one-hop throw to catcher Brian Mccann, who tagged the sliding Bird.
It would have been a huge play for anyone, but was even more impressive considering Gonzalez is primarily an infielder, who has been playing in left field in the postseason so Hinch can get his bat in the lineup after he hit a careerbest .303 in the regular season.
• Alex Cora will be in New York on Sunday, as the American League Championship Series switches cities.
And the Boston Red Sox will be there meet him.
Cora, the Astros’ bench coach and a top managerial prospect, is slated to interview with Red Sox president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski during a day off in the ALCS against the Yankees. Boston is shopping for a manager after dismissing John Farrell.
Cabrera sued for support.
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 Detroit News reported the legal fight could cost the two-time American League MVP up to $100,000 a month.