Corey Seager, in his return the Dodgers lineup in the World Series, has showed little rust after missing the National League Championship Series with a lower back sprain.
Seager hit an opposite-field two-run home run in the sixth inning Wednesday, and the Dodgers expect him to start at shortstop during the games played under American League rules in Houston this weekend.
Manager Dave Roberts listed Andre Ethier, Joc Pederson and Yasmani Grandal as candidates to start at designated hitter.
“Unless something changes today, I don’t see why [Corey] wouldn’t start at short for us,” Roberts said.
Pederson is left in
Roberts chose to start Joc Pederson over Ethier in left field against hard-throwing Astros right-handerJustin Verlander.
Roberts indicated the Dodgers felt Pederson was more likely to handle the velocity of Verlander’s fastball, which averaged 95.2 mph this season, according to FanGraphs.
And he was right. Peterson blasted a solo home run with two outs in the fifth inning for the Dodgers’ first run.
Pederson also represented a defensive upgrade over Ethier, Roberts said. Even so, Chris Taylor started in center field, Pederson’s former home.
Special pitch
The traditional first pitch at World Series games can lead to special moments. The one before Game 2 seemed extra special.
The public-address announcer told the crowd it was time for the first pitch, and Vin Scully walked out to a reception unlike any other. He mentioned Jackie Robinson, Roy Campanella, Gil Hodges and Duke Snider and how they must be laughing their heads off watching him throw.
He asked for a catcher, and out walked 1981 World Series co-MVP Steve Yeager.
Scully went into his windup, then grabbed his arm. “I think I tore my rotator cuff: I need a left-hander to relieve me.”
The crowd started a “Scully! Scully” chant. Out walked Fernando Valenzuela to another huge ovation. He threw out the first ball.
Scully then led the sellout crowd in saying “It’s time for Dodger baseball!”
Different sort of series
This isn’t Cody Bellinger’s first World Series.
When he was 12, the Dodgers rookie played in the Little League World Series on a team from Chandler, Ariz.
“I think this thing is a little bit bigger,” Bellinger said this week.
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Astros center fielder George Springer celebrates his two-run home run against the Dodgers in the 11th inning of Game 2.
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A Dodger fan watches Houston win Game 2 of the 2017 World Series 7-6 in the 11th inning to even the series at a game apiece at Dodger Stadium. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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Fans at Dodger Stadium react as Houston wins a Game 2 thriller, 7-6, in 11 innings.
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George Springer exults after his 11th-inning home run.
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Disappointed Dodgers fans.
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Dodgers right fielder Yasiel Puig strikes out to end the game.
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A happy Houston Astros fan at Dodger Stadium.
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George Springer and Cameron Maybin celebrate after a two-run homer by Springer off Dodgers reliever Brandon McCarthy in the 11th inning.
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Dodgers fan Ethan Czypinski, 7, of San Dimas wears his baseball glove under his World Series hat while watching a tense Game 2 at Dodger Stadium.
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Kenley Jansen turns toward the outfield after giving up a game-tying homer to Astros left fielder Marwin Gonzalez in the ninth inning.
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The throw to Astros catcher Brian McCann is too late as Dodgers second baseman Logan Forsythe scores in the 10th inning on a single by Enrique Hernandez to tie the Game 2 score at 5-5.
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Yasiel Puig sits with his head in his hands after not being able to catch what turned into a ground-rule double off the bat of Astros third baseman Alex Bregman during the seventh inning.
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Dodgers right fielder Yasiel Puig throws his glove in anger after not being able to catch a ground-rule double by Astros third baseman Alex Bregman.
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A fan watches Houston take a 7-6 victory in 11 innings on Wednesday night.
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Dodgers reliever Brandon McCarthy paces behind the mound as Astros center fielder George Springer circles the bases after hitting a two-run home run during the 11th inning.
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Dodgers left fielder Charlie Culberson celebrates as he circles the bases after hitting a home run in the 11th inning to cut the Dodgers’ deficit to 7-6.
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Dodgers fans wave souvenir towels as they cheer on the Dodgers from the top deck section during Game 2 of the 2017 World Series.
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With his glove ready in the left field pavilion, a Dodgers fan cheers on the Dodgers while watching Game 2 of the 2017 World Series at Dodger Stadium. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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Dodgers second baseman Logan Forsythe scores the tying run in the bottom of the ninth inning after a hit by Enrique Hernandez.
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Chris Taylor can’t get to a home run by Houston’s Marwin Gonzalez during the ninth inning of Game 2.
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Fan Angel Rodriguez of East Los Angeles wears his Dodgers pride on his face while watching Houston win 7-6 in the 11th inning to even the series.
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Astros shortstop Carlos Correa greets teammate Marwin Gonzalez after he hit a solo home run off Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen in the ninth inning to tie the score, 3-3, and force extra innings.
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Corey Seager reacts after hitting a two-run home run during the sixth inning against Astros pitcher Justin Verlander.
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Dodger fans cheer in the left field pavilion as Corey Seager hits a two-run homer in the sixth inning for a 3-1 Dodgers lead in Game 2 of the 2017 World Series against the Astros at Dodger Stadium. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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Dodger fans cheer in the left field pavilion as Corey Seager hits a two-run homer in the sixth for a 3-1 Dodgers lead in Game 2 of the 2017 World Series at Dodger Stadium. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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Andrew Vialpando, center, cheers with other Dodgers fans while watching the World Series at The Short Stop in Echo Park.
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Corey Seager lets out a yell as he hits a two-run home run against Houston starting pitcher Justin Verlander in the sixth inning.
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Dodgers left fielder Joc Pederson celebrates after hitting a solo home run, which broke up Justin Verlander’s no-hit bid and tied the score, 1-1.
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Dodgers left fielder Joc Pederson connects for a solo home run against Houston’s Justin Verlander.
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Chris Taylor is tagged out by Astros shortstop Carlos Correa in the fourth inning.
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Dodger starter Rich Hill watches as Justin Turner throws to first base after fielding Justin Verlander’s sacrifice bunt in the third inning.
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Rich Hill delivers a pitch during the first inning of Game 2. Hill would work four innings, giving up one run on three hits, all in the third inning, while striking out seven.
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Dodgers catcher Austin Barnes catches a foul ball hit by Astros third baseman Alex Bregman during the first inning.
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Dodgers right fielder Yasiel Puig catches a fly ball hit by Astros shortstop Carlos Correa with his tongue out during the first inning of Game 2.
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Dodgers catcher Austin Barnes falls the ground after catching a foul ball hit by Astros third baseman Alex Bregman during the first inning.
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Actor Jason Bateman yells at Astros shortstop Carlos Correa during the first inning.
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Fernando Valenzuela, Vin Scully and Steve Yeager walk off the field after the ceremonial first pitch before Game 2.
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The crowd cheers after honoring Vietnam veterans while country music star Brad Paisley sang the national anthem before Game 2.
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Dodgers legends Vin Scully, left, and Fernando Valenzuela throw out the first pitch before the start of Game 2.
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Dodgers right fielder Yasiel Puig sports a new dye job before the start of Game 2.
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Dodgers ace Clayotn Kershaw meets with country singer Brad Paisley before the start of Game 2.
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Dodgers manager Dave Roberts and Andrew Friedman, the Dodgers’ president of baseball operations, share a light moment before the start of Game 2.
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Dodgers outfielder Enrique Hernandez, right, shares a light moment with hitting coach Turner Ward before the start of Game 2.
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Dodgers fan Wendy Perez, of Los Angeles, holds up 7-month-old son Ezra Perez, her “lucky charm,” in the upper level before watching the Dodgers play the Astros in Game 2.
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A Corey Seager fan watches an Astros pitcher work out in the bullpen before Game 2.
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Mike Eliason, dressed in a Justin Turner wig, high-fives Dodgers fans before Game 2.
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Dodgers fan Robbie Tabares, 6, of Whittier takes in the view of his first World Series from the upper deck.
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Dodgers fans take photos before watching the Dodgers play the Astros in Game 2.
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Dodgers season-ticket holder Gilbert Romero sports his Dodgers sombrero and beads in upper deck before the start of Game 2.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) Bellinger is also one of the few Dodgers who has ridden in a World Series victory parade. His father Clay played for the Yankees in 2000, when the team won a championship, and that fall the family piled into a convertible and rode through the streets of New York City.
Bellinger doesn’t remember much about that — he was 5 at the time — but he’d like to give the parade thing another shot this fall.
“Hopefully there’s going to be one here in L.A.,” he said.
Exchange of Fields
Along with utility man Enrique Hernandez, reliever Josh Fields is one of two Dodgers to have played for the Astros. He is the only player in this series to be dealt from one team to the other. The Dodgers acquired him from Houston at the 2016 trade deadline.
“It’s a little weird,” Fields said this week. “I haven’t played against them since being traded. It’d be a little weird, especially being on this stage. It’s gonna be interesting.”
And it was. Field pitched to three batters in the 10th inning, giving up back-to-back home runs to Jose Altuve and Carlos Correa and then a double to Yuli Gurriel.
He actually pitched well during the regular season. He came into the game with a 2.83 earned-run average over 76 1/3 innings, with 82 strikeouts against 23 walks.
Short hop
The Dodgers will work out at Minute Maid Park on Thursday to acclimate themselves with an unfamiliar ballpark. The Dodgers did not work out on the road when facing Arizona or Chicago in the first two rounds. Roberts suggested the team might run a simulated game during the workout.
The Los Angeles Dodgers in the 2017 World Series
andy.mccullough@latimes.com
Twitter: @McCulloughTimes
