Shohei Ohtani is expected to be back in the starting lineup Wednesday, Yoshinobu Yamamoto will be on the mound and the Los Angeles Dodgers will accelerate their playoff preparations in a home game against the San Diego Padres.
Ohtani last played Sept. 7, one day after he struck out a season-high four times, and has been on the injured list with right biceps discomfort ever since.
With five regular-season games remaining, Ohtani will get a chance to build some momentum for the postseason.
“Unless I hear otherwise, he’ll be in the lineup,” said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, who admitted that the team’s leading home-run hitter with 30 is about an “8 or 9” on a health scale of 1-10.
Where to put Ohtani in the lineup is another question. Normally the Dodgers’ leadoff hitter, Mookie Betts has made the top spot his own lately.
With the Padres set to start left-hander Robbie Ray, the right-handed Betts likely is to hit leadoff Wednesday, while Ohtani could be in his former No. 2 spot. Betts went 1-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored in Tuesday’s 7-0 victory over the Padres and is batting .366 since the start of September.
Yamamoto (14-8, 2.51 ERA) has looked like an ace all season and has been at his best of late by going 3-1 with a 1.79 ERA over his last seven starts. The right-hander is 3-3 with a 3.76 ERA in seven career starts against San Diego.
The Dodgers (97-60) increased their home winning streak to 11 games and reduced their magic number to two for clinching a bye through the wild-card round. They also pulled within a game of the National League-leading Milwaukee Brewers (98-59).
Los Angeles center fielder Andy Pages returned from a broken hand on Tuesday and reached base twice.
“Obviously being out for a month, I’m not feeling all that great or familiar at the plate but there are things from the Trajekt (pitching machine) that helped me come back,” Pages said through a team interpreter.
The Padres’ magic number for clinching a wild-card spot remained at two after Tuesday’s loss.
Ray (13-8, 3.60) pitched well immediately after he was acquired from the San Francisco Giants at the trade deadline but has an 8.78 ERA over his past three starts. He is 3-2 with a 5.22 ERA in eight starts for San Diego.
In 26 career starts against the Dodgers, tied for his most against any club, Ray is 9-9 with a 3.81 ERA.
The Padres (87-70) entered Tuesday’s series opener against the Dodgers with 13 victories in their previous 14 games but failed to find much offense as Los Angeles went to a bullpen game and used eight pitchers.
It was the second time since the All-Star break the Padres were held without a run.
San Diego also is expected to activate right-hander Jason Adam following a shoulder injury as he rejoins one of the major league’s best bullpens. Adam is 2-2 with a 2.51 ERA in 36 relief appearances but has not pitched in a big-league game since June 29.
“Yeah, more than ready,” Adam said, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune. “I feel 100% ready.”
Padres manager Craig Stammen was guarded with the team’s plans.
“It’s good to see him back pitching in his normal way,” Stammen said. “Hopefully we’ll have him activated before the season ends.”
–Field Level Media
