Dodgers, Astros to Conduct Workouts on Eve of World Series

Los Angeles Dodgers grounds crew Jordan Lorenz and Justin Patenaude paint the World Series logo on to the field in preparation for game one and two at Dodger Stadium on October 20, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Getty Images)

LOS ANGELES (CNS) - The Los Angeles Dodgers and Houston Astros are set to conduct workouts at Dodger Stadium today on the eve of Game 1 of the World Series, which the weather forecast predicts could be the hottest ever.

An update on the status of Dodger shortstop Corey Seager is expected. Seager missed the National League Championship Series because of a back injury after hitting .273 and driving in two runs in the three-game sweep of the Arizona Diamondbacks in a National League Division Series.

Seager had the Dodgers second-highest batting average during the regular season, .295, was second in RBIs with 77, and tied for third in home runs with 22.

Manager Dave Roberts expressed optimism before Sunday's workout that Seager would be able to play in the World Series.

``We're very confident,'' Roberts said. ``Today he's going to participate like any of our other players (and) take the at-bats off the pitchers as well. That will be another test for him.

``After the workload yesterday, he came in today and said he felt as good as he has in weeks so that was encouraging.''

Roberts did not say who the Dodgers would drop from the roster to make room for Seager.

The World Series rosters will be announced Tuesday morning.

Roberts said the Dodgers will keep the same pitching rotation as they did in the NLCS with left-hander Rich Hill starting Game 2 and right-hander Yu Darvish Game 3 following the previously announced Game 1 starter, left-hander Clayton Kershaw.

Left-hander Dallas Keuchel will start Game 1 for Houston and right- hander Justin Verlander Game 2, manager A.J. Hinch said Saturday following the 4-0 victory over the New York Yankees in Game 7 of the American League Championship Series.

Fans reach for Los Angeles Dodgers hats at the team store at Dodger Stadium on October 20, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo Credit: Getty Images)

Keuchel's 14-5 record was tied for fourth best in the American League. Keuchel limited the New York Yankees to four hits over seven innings and did not allow a run in a 2-1 victory in Game 1 of the American League Championship Series Oct. 13. In his most recent appearance Wednesday he allowed four runs and seven hits in 4 2/3 innings in a 5-0 loss.

Keuchel had two stints on the 10-day disabled list this season because of a pinched nerve in his neck and neck discomfort, sidelining him from May 20- 26 and June 8-July 27.

The temperature for the opening pitch is forecast by the National Weather Service to be in the mid-90s. The unseasonably high temperature will be caused by a combination of Santa Ana winds and a ridge of high pressure aloft, Robbie Munroe, an NWS meteorologist, told City News Service.

The hottest known World Series game was Game 1 of the 2001 World Series between the Arizona Diamondbacks and New York Yankees in Phoenix on Oct. 27, 2001, when the first-pitch temperature was 94 degrees and Major League Baseball ordered the roof at then-Bank One Ballpark to be open, according to The Weather Channel, citing information from a blog by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration meteorologist Alex Lamers.

Roberts said he did not think the record heat forecast for Tuesday would effect the game.

``In Los Angeles I think that our estimation of hot is still relative to being in Southern California by the coast. The guy taking the baseball for us, I don't think that he's concerned about a little spike in heat, so we feel good,'' Roberts said, referring to Kershaw, who was raised in the Dallas area.


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