Ohtani 'considerably' healthier, expected back in Dodgers' lineup Wednesday - ESPN

LOS ANGELES — Shohei Ohtani is expected to return to the lineup on Wednesday, the first day he is eligible to be activated off the injured list, and Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said he looks «considerably» healthier than he did a couple of weeks ago.

«If he was a five, he's probably an eight or a nine right now,» Roberts said, referencing a 1-to-10 scale.

The Dodgers activated right-hander Roki Sasaki and center fielder Andy Pages off the IL on Tuesday, a major development in the leadup to October.

Sasaki, who has been recovering from a blister suffered in an Aug. 26 start, was available out of the bullpen for Tuesday's series opener against the San Diego Padres and could be an option to once again close out games in the postseason. Pages, who fractured his left hand on Aug. 22, will reprise his role as an everyday player at a premium position.

Ohtani landed on the IL because of lingering pain in his right biceps and left knee on Sept. 8 but began a hitting progression seven days ago and advanced to taking as many as 40 swings off Trajekt, the popular pitching simulator. Ohtani also ran the bases that day. On Tuesday, he went through his typical pregame workout.

Ohtani, 32, will only hit the rest of this season and was struggling in that realm before landing on the IL, compiling just seven hits and 22 strikeouts over his last 54 at-bats. Roberts previously indicated the plan is for Ohtani to play in all of the Dodgers' remaining five regular-season games to get re-acclimated to major league pitching.

Where he hits, though, is up for debate. In all likelihood, Ohtani will continue to lead off against opposing right-handed pitchers. But Mookie Betts' recent hot streak — heading into this week, he was