08/22/26 05:01:00
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08/22 16:59 CDT A thumbs-up and 30 pitches: Ohtani's latest step back toward
the Dodgers' mound
A thumbs-up and 30 pitches: Ohtani's latest step back toward the Dodgers' mound
By BETH HARRIS
AP Sports Writer
LOS ANGELES (AP) --- Shohei Ohtani faced teammate Will Smith in live batting
practice on Saturday, but there's no definitive timeline for the two-way
superstar to return to pitching for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Wearing long sleeves, Ohtani threw 30 pitches under a blazing sun in 93-degree
(34 Celsius) heat and ended the session by giving a thumbs-up.
Among those looking on were pitching coach Mark Prior and president of baseball
operations Andrew Friedman, fellow MVPs Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman, and
some of the Pittsburgh Pirates.
"We're getting there," manager Dave Roberts said afterward. "If it were up to
Shohei, he'd be in a game in a few days."
Ohtani hasn't pitched in a game since July 3 because of lingering soreness in
his left knee, which is his landing leg while pitching.
"I'd like to think the knee thing is behind us," Roberts said.
Ohtani is likely to throw another live session next week. Once he returns to
the rotation, Roberts said he'll be limited to one, two or three innings as
part of a slow buildup.
"The lives are good because you're actually facing hitters and you can see the
mechanics and how they play," the manager said.
The goal is for Ohtani to be able to make full-length starts once the Dodgers
begin their quest for a third consecutive World Series championship in October.
"I could sit here and say, ?Yeah, six innings when we start the postseason,'"
Roberts said, "but he's still got to do the work and get there, and he's got to
pass some tests and markers. That's probably the goal, but we still got a ways
to get there."
Meanwhile, Tyler Glasnow will rejoin the rotation and is expected to start
Tuesday in Atlanta. It'll be the right-hander's first start since May 6, before
he was sidelined with lower back spasms and went on the 60-day IL.
Glasnow will rejoin a rotation of Tarik Skubal, Blake Snell, Yoshinobu Yamamoto
and Roki Sasaki.
Roberts said Justin Wrobleski is expected to move to the bullpen when the
injured starters return.
Closer Edwin Daz played catch Friday while on the 15-day IL with neck
inflammation. He's using the time to rest mechanically after struggling with
injuries in his first season with the team.
Roberts indicated Daz won't be rushed back into the closer's role.
"It's more of getting him back healthy and then putting him in some softer
landing situations to get the confidence, to get the feel and the trust of
executing pitches," he said, "and then at that point in time we'll go from
there."
All-Star outfielder Andy Pages went on the injured list Saturday with a left
hand fracture after getting hit by a pitch from Pirates starter Bubba Chandler
a night earlier.
"I think they're probably leaning toward some type of surgery," Roberts said.
"Four weeks is the floor for him to be back with us. Like I told him in the
X-ray room, the season's not over for him and we expect him back full health."
The team recalled outfielder Alek Thomas from Triple-A Oklahoma City. Thomas
was traded to the Dodgers in mid-May from the Arizona Diamondbacks. He'll play
center against right-handed pitchers, while Tommy Edman and Kik Hernndez
could see time against left-handers.
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