Dodgers activate Pages, Sasaki before Padres series
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The Dodgers have strengthened their lineup and bullpen ahead of a big series against the Padres that begins Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium.
Los Angeles activated outfielder Andy Pages and right-handed pitcher Roki Sasaki from the injured list Tuesday. Right-hander Emmet Sheehan and catcher Eliezer Alfonzo were optioned to Triple-A in corresponding moves.
Pages was batting .272 with 21 home runs, 12 steals and a .796 OPS before his left hand was fractured by a pitch on Aug. 21. He underwent surgery, which included the insertion of a screw to speed up the healing process, and has been activated without playing in any rehab games. However, he did play in an extended simulated game Saturday.
Sasaki has been sidelined by a blister on the middle finger of his right hand since Aug. 27. He also didn’t go on a rehab assignment but has been able to face live batters recently, including a four-inning, 48-pitch simulated game on Wednesday. Although the original plan was to build him back up as a starter, Sasaki will be available out of the Dodgers’ bullpen in the final days of the regular season. He has a 4.60 ERA across 119 1/3 innings this season.
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These activations occur one day before the Dodgers could also welcome back Shohei Ohtani. He is eligible to come off the injured list Wednesday, and manager Dave Roberts indicated Sunday that there’s a “good chance” Ohtani will return to the lineup at that point. Ohtani, who has been nagged by soreness in his left knee and right biceps, will not pitch for the rest of the season.
The Dodgers (96-60) are four games ahead of the Braves for the No. 2 seed in the NL playoffs, which would give L.A. a bye into the Division Series round. If the season ended today, Los Angeles would host the winner of the NL Wild Card Series between the third-seeded Braves and sixth-seeded Phillies.
However, there is still a lot to sort out in the National League Wild Card standings, with the Phillies (86-70) only one game behind the Cubs and Padres (both 87-69). San Diego arrives at Chavez Ravine Tuesday as winners of its past five games and 13 of its past 14 overall.