The Los Angeles Dodgers activated Andy Pages and Roki Sasaki off the Injured List ahead of their final home series of 2026.
The Los Angeles Dodgers are entering their final home series of the 2026 season against the San Diego Padres with some added reinforcements.
Per the Dodgers transactions page, outfielder Andy Pages and right-hander Roki Sasaki were activated off their respective IL stints. To make room, catcher Eliezer Alfonzo and right-hander Emmet Sheehan were optioned back to Triple-A.
Pages makes his return to Los Angeles after sustaining a fracture in his left hand after being plunked by a pitch. He underwent a minor procedure in which a screw was inserted into his hand to speed up the process of recovery.
Since undergoing the procedure, the 25-year-old All-Star outfielder has progressed according to schedule and even hit off the Dodgers' velocity machine ahead of last Saturday's win against the San Francisco Giants.
Before landing on the IL, Pages was one of the premier hitters in a Dodgers lineup that had already run away with the National League West. In 128 games, he slashed .272/.338/.458 with 21 home runs and 80 RBIs.
Beyond his offensive production, the return of Pages' defensive prowess will be the biggest benefit once he's back in the starting lineup. He's generated eight Outs Above Average with a .992 fielding percentage, according to Baseball Savant.
Aug 2, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers center fielder Andy Pages (44) makes a catch against the Boston Red Sox during the sixth inning at Dodger Stadium. -- IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters ConnectOn the pitching side, Sasaki is returning to the mound after dealing with a middle finger blister flare-up in late August. Since then, the right-hander has recorded multiple bullpen sessions, with his most recent one coming before last Saturday's win.
As far as his role goes, Sasaki will enter the avenue of his old role in the bullpen.
Though Sasaki has posted a 4.60 ERA in 23 games started and is capable of logging significant innings, manager Dave Roberts does not expect the 24-year-old to take the bulk of innings when the Postseason arrives.
"I can see multiples, but it’s not going to be bulk, as in four or five innings. It won’t be that," Roberts said to the media via The Bleed Los Podcast.
Sasaki has more than enough experience in a reliever role, with his 0.84 ERA in nine appearances providing a focal point on the pitching side during the Dodgers 2025 Postseason run.
Aug 13, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Roki Sasaki (11) delivers to the plate in the first inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at Dodger Stadium. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters ConnectWith the Dodgers molding themselves for another deep run in October, the back-and-forth difficulties of Shohei Ohtani may soon be a thing of the past. If all goes well, Ohtani is set to return on Wednesday, per Sonja Chen of MLB.com.
Ohtani has been on the 15-day IL (backdated to Sept. 8), but has progressed in the weeks leading up to his potential return. He began his hitting program on Sept. 15 and made leaps on Saturday when he took 30-plus swings off the team's Trajekt machine.
He was also seen running the bases during Dodgers batting practice.
Ohtani is eligible to be activated off the IL on Wednesday, with only five games left to get acclimated back before the season ends.
But that seems to be no issue, as Roberts is fully confident that the best is yet to come for his two-way star, saying that "it's going to be the best physical place" he's been in all season, per Chen.
