The Los Angeles Dodgers expect superstar Shohei Ohtani to be nearing full strength when they take on the Atlanta Braves in the National League Division Series with an eye on a third straight World Series title.
The four-time Most Valuable Player, who landed in the injured list with nagging left knee and right biceps injuries late in the regular season, has benefitted from five days off as the 100-win Dodgers enjoyed a first-round bye, manager Dave Roberts said. But they’ll face a red-hot team in the Padres, who clinched a playoff berth with a 16-5 record in September and swept the Chicago Cubs 2-0 in their Wild Card series. “I know that’s sort of a low bar given his injury, but I do think that he’s as healthy as he’s been in quite some time. “And they’re rolling, but that’s what you’re going to face at this time of year. Uncertainty was hanging over the Yankees as they headed to Tampa Bay after knocking out the Boston Red Sox in the Wild Card round despite the absence of injured star Aaron Judge.
“I feel confident that you’re going to see the best version of Shohei of the last two months,” Roberts said. “Everyone knows the Dodgers have a juggernaut, but we played well against them this year,” said Braves manager Walt Weiss, who was scrambling to get his roster settled as the team headed to Los Angeles after beating Philadelphia 6-2 on Thursday night to clinch their series win. “They’re playing so well and they’re super talented, a super talented, confident team right now with, we all know, the best bullpen in baseball, with some real mega stars in the lineup,” Brewers manager Pat Murphy said of the Padres. Judge’s status for the division series was in doubt just a day before Saturday’s game one, but Rays manager Kevin Cash said New York posed a formidable offensive threat even without him. “It’s incredibly impressive, the offensive success that they have had missing the best hitter in our sport,” Cash said.
