The starting lineups have been announced for Game 1 of the World Series presented by YouTube TV.
The Astros and Dodgers square off in the opening game of the Fall Classic tonight at Dodger Stadium. Dallas Keuchel starts for Houston, while Clayton Kershaw will take the mound for Los Angeles.
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Here's how the American League and National League champions' lineups shake out.
ASTROS
In a clash of left-handed aces, both teams have stacked their order with right-handed hitters. For the Astros, that means Alex Bregman batting second, as he did against the Yankees' Carsten Sabathia in Game 7 of the AL Championship Series presented by Camping World. Houston's top five for Game 1 of the World Series is the same as it was in that Game 7, and all five hitters are right-handed: George Springer, Bregman, Jose Altuve, Carlos Correa and Yuli Gurriel.
On the road in an NL park, though, the Astros lose the designated hitter, which does take one right-handed power bat out of their lineup -- Evan Gattis, whose home run in Game 7 opened the scoring in Houston's 4-0 win. Brian McCann, a left-handed hitter, will start the World Series opener at catcher over Gattis, even though Kershaw will be on the hill.
The Astros have also again chosen to start the left-handed-hitting Josh Reddick in right field, with right-handed-hitting Cameron Maybin coming off the bench.
1. George Springer, CF
2. Alex Bregman, 3B
3. Jose Altuve, 2B
4. Carlos Correa, SS
5. Yuli Gurriel, 1B
6. Brian McCann, C
7. Marwin Gonzalez, LF
8. Josh Reddick, RF
9. Dallas Keuchel, P
DODGERS
Star shortstop Corey Seager, who missed the NL Championship Series presented by Camping World due to a lower back sprain, returns to the lineup for Los Angeles, batting sixth in Game 1. Aside from Seager's addition, the Dodgers' lineup has a similar look to the one they ran out against the Cubs' left-handed pitchers in the NLCS.
Seager normally occupies the No. 2 spot in the lineup. Manager Dave Roberts said he wanted to ease Seager into the lineup after the back injury and with Keuchel, a tough lefty, on the mound.
"It was more of he hadn't played in two weeks," Roberts said, "and obviously to give him an opportunity to kind of ease into the game a little bit. 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."
Roberts said Seager will be back in the usual spot in the lineup for Game 2. Seager injured his back on a slide Game 3 of the NL Division Series presented by T-Mobile and was left off the NLCS roster. The 2016 NL Rookie of the Year Award winner is hitting in the six-hole for the first time in his career and for the first time since '15.
Although the Dodgers may be easing Seager back in at a lower spot in the order than usual, the presence of Keuchel won't keep Los Angeles' other lefty masher, Cody Bellinger, out of the heart of the order. Bellinger, who along with Seager was successful in lefty-lefty matchups this season, will continue to hit third for the Dodgers in Game 1.
Enrique Hernandez, who homered three times in the win that sent the Dodgers to their first World Series since 1988, again draws the start in left field, and he has been moved up to the fifth spot in the batting order against Keuchel. John Forsythe, who hit fifth in Game 5 of the NLCS, will slot into the No. 7 spot. Austin Barnes will continue to start at catcher.
1. Chris Taylor, CF
2. Justin Turner, 3B
3. Cody Bellinger, 1B
4. Yasiel Puig, RF
5. Enrique Hernandez, LF
6. Corey Seager, SS
7. Logan Forsythe, 2B
8. Austin Barnes, C
9. Clayton Kershaw, P