Dodgers expect Shohei Ohtani back from injured list Wednesday
The short version
- Shohei Ohtani expected to be activated Wednesday vs. the Padres after missing 13 games
- Lineup spot undecided with Mookie Betts thriving in the leadoff role
- Roki Sasaki tossed a scoreless relief inning in Tuesday's 7-0 win over San Diego
- Rookie Josue De Paula slashing .323/.500/.581 while filling in at DH
The two-way star is set to return against San Diego after missing 13 games, though his spot in the lineup is undecided.
The Los Angeles Dodgers are expected to activate Shohei Ohtani from the injured list ahead of Wednesday's game against the San Diego Padres, according to a report from MLB.com's Sonja Chen. Ohtani has sat out the last 13 games while dealing with multiple injuries.
Where Ohtani hits in the lineup remains unsettled. Mookie Betts has performed well from the leadoff spot during Ohtani's absence, and manager Dave Roberts said he is still weighing how to arrange the batting order against left-handed pitching.
The Dodgers returned two players from injury in Tuesday's 7-0 win over San Diego. Roki Sasaki threw a scoreless inning in relief, his first bullpen appearance since the 2025 World Series, allowing one hit and striking out two. Chen reports the plan is for Sasaki to pitch out of the bullpen in the postseason for a second straight year.
Rookie Josue De Paula, 21, has impressed while filling in at designated hitter, batting .323 with a .500 on-base percentage over his first 11 games. Per Maddie Lee of the Los Angeles Times, his next test is handling the outfield defensively.
