Originally published by DodgerBlue.com
The Los Angeles Dodgers remain without multiple key contributors due to injury but are on the verge of welcoming back Tyler Glasnow, Shohei Ohtani and Will Smith as the month of September approaches.
Smith recently hit against Ohtani in live batting practice at Dodger Stadium and is now set to start a rehab assignment before potentially rejoining the Dodgers when rosters expand on Sept. 1.
Ohtani has one more bullpen session on the horizon and then could potentially be back in the rotation after that. Meanwhile, Glasnow is expected to be activated off the 60-day injured list Tuesday for a start in the series opener against the Atlanta Braves.
Dodgers updates
Eric Lauer
With the Dodgers rotation on the verge of being at full strength, Eric Lauer has been moved into a bullpen role. Lauer is an option to follow Glasnow on Tuesday and after that will be strategically lined up to piggyback in Ohtani’s starts.
“It’s great,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said of Lauer. “Obviously, we got Glass coming back, we have Lauer with length, and so to then have the opportunity, the flexibility, to insert Shohei, to build up like he did last year, I think is of huge benefit both ways.
“And again, having guys like Lauer certainly behind them, makes it that much of a softer landing for Shohei.”
Will Smith
Smith is starting his rehab assignment with Triple-A Oklahoma City on Tuesday. The 31-year-old has not played in a game since June 5 due to neck inflammation.
Smith wasn’t at his best offensively before the injury, but should be an upgrade over Hunter Feduccia and Ben Rortvedt. Smith’s right-handed bat will also help a Dodgers lineup that recently lost Andy Pages to a fractured left hand.
“It’s huge,” Roberts said of getting Smith’s bat back. “I think he’s really hand agnostic, but just his at-bat quality behind the plate, just getting in the lineup, and certainly, yeah, you lose a right-handed bat like Andy, to have Will back in there, certainly raises our floor.”
Smith has also been working with Tarik Skubal to make sure they are on the same page when he returns.
“He has. Actually, I’m assuming he has,” Roberts answered when asked if the two have been getting familiar with each other. “He does a good job of learning the guys, and Skubal is certainly very important. He’s stayed really connected with Mark Prior as far as the game planning and things like that.
“But yeah, I think that my assumption is he’s already had good conversation with Tarik.”
Shohei Ohtani
Ohtani is scheduled to a bullpen session at Truist Park this week, and how he responds will determine his next step.
“I think it’s more of how the ‘pen goes, and also more so, to be quite honest, how Shohei feels,” Roberts said. “If he feels like he can take on a game and throw an inning, great, and how it lines up, versus, ‘I might need to see some more hitters.’”
If the four-time MVP needs more time, he could be pushed back to start the Dodgers’ next homestand from Sept. 1-9.
Either way, Ohtani is only expected to throw an inning or two in his outing. But after indicating the Dodgers would build Ohtani back up in a fashion similar to last year’s progression, Roberts said it’s possible there will be a more aggressive plan in place.
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