LOS ANGELES -- The Dodgers activated All-Star shortstop Corey Seager and pitcher Brandon McCarthy and removed Curtis Granderson and James Farmer from the 25-man roster for the World Series presented by YouTube TV, which starts tonight at Dodger Stadium against the Astros.
Seager missed the National League Championship Series presented by Camping World with a low back sprain sustained in the Game 3 clincher of the NL Division Series in Arizona on a slide into second base. Seager is in the starting lineup at shortstop for the Fall Classic opener, batting sixth for the first time this year.
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In addition to the Seager move, the Dodgers added right-handed starter McCarthy for middle relief. He wasn't on the roster for the first two October series, and he made only three appearances after July 20 because of various injuries and the yips, but McCarthy impressed the staff by throwing three simulated games of two innings each over the past two weeks while on the traveling taxi squad.
"With the characteristics of his pitches, it makes sense. He'll complement our bullpen," manager Dave Roberts said of McCarthy, who relies on sinkers. "He's really been sharp. To his credit, he's done what he can do to keep our position players fresh and sharp, and what we've seen of the sinker, cutter, curveball -- it just makes sense. As a veteran, I don't think the moment will be too much for him. He hasn't pitched in a Major League game in quite some time. We're still confident he'll be productive."
Dropped from the roster were Granderson, who was 1-for-15 with eight strikeouts this postseason, and Farmer, a third catcher who is 0-for-4 with two strikeouts and an RBI this October. Granderson was acquired from the Mets during the season because a slumping Joc Pederson was sent to Triple-A Oklahoma City. Now, Pederson is active and Granderson is not.
"Obviously, the at-bats Curtis has been taking over the last month haven't been to what he would expect," said Roberts. "For us to win this series, I think it was the best for us, and I talked to him last night. Obviously, he's disappointed, but supportive. He handled it like the pro that he is. This is the third time he's part of a World Series team, and who doesn't want to see it through? But I think the decisions we make aren't always easy."
Infielder Charlie Culberson, who like Pederson missed the NLDS but was added for the NLCS, is active for the World Series to back up Seager.
The Dodgers will carry 12 pitchers, two catchers, six infielders and five outfielders.

The roster:
Pitchers (12): Clayton Kershaw, Tony Cingrani, Yu Darvish, Josh Fields, Rich Hill, Kenley Jansen, Kenta Maeda, Brandon Morrow, Thomas Stripling, Tony Watson, Brandon McCarthy, Alex Wood.
Catchers (2): Austin Barnes, Yasmani Grandal.
Infielders (6): Corey Seager, Cody Bellinger, Charlie Culberson, John Forsythe, Justin Turner, Chase Utley.
Outfielders (5): Enrique Hernandez, Andre Ethier, Joc Pederson, Yasiel Puig, Chris Taylor.
The moves leave Granderson, Farmer, Luis Avilan, Pedro Baez, Hyun-Jin Ryu and Brock Stewart on the traveling taxi squad (inactive but on-site if an injury replacement is needed).