LOS ANGELES (AP) — Shohei Ohtani faced teammate Will Smith in live batting practice on Saturday, but there's no definitive timeline for the two-way superstar to return to pitching for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Wearing long sleeves, Ohtani threw 30 pitches under a blazing sun in 93-degree (34 Celsius) heat and ended the session by giving a thumbs-up.
Among those looking on were pitching coach Mark Prior and president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman, fellow MVPs Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman, and some of the Pittsburgh Pirates.
“We're getting there,” manager Dave Roberts said afterward. “If it were up to Shohei, he'd be in a game in a few days.”
Ohtani hasn't pitched in a game since July 3 because of lingering soreness in his left knee, which is his landing leg while pitching.
“I'd like to think the knee thing is behind us,” Roberts said.
Ohtani is likely to throw another live session next week. Once he returns to the rotation, Roberts said he'll be limited to one, two or three innings as part of a slow buildup.
“The lives are good because you’re actually facing hitters and you can see the mechanics and how they play,” the manager said.
The goal is for Ohtani to be able to make full-length starts once the Dodgers begin their quest for a third consecutive World Series championship in October.
“I could sit here and say, ‘Yeah, six innings when we start the postseason,’” Roberts said, “but he’s still got to do the work and get there, and he’s got to pass some tests and markers. That’s probably the goal, but we still got a ways to get there.”
Meanwhile, Tyler Glasnow will rejoin the rotation and is expected to start Tuesday in Atlanta. It'll be the right-hander's first start since May 6, before he was sidelined with lower back spasms and went on the 60-day IL.
Glasnow will rejoin a rotation of Tarik Skubal, Blake Snell, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Roki Sasaki.
Roberts said Justin Wrobleski is expected to move to the bullpen when the injured starters return.
Closer Edwin Díaz played catch Friday while on the 15-day IL with neck inflammation. He's using the time to rest mechanically after struggling with injuries in his first season with the team.
Roberts indicated Díaz won't be rushed back into the closer's role.
“It's more of getting him back healthy and then putting him in some softer landing situations to get the confidence, to get the feel and the trust of executing pitches,” he said, “and then at that point in time we’ll go from there.”
All-Star outfielder Andy Pages went on the injured list Saturday with a left hand fracture after getting hit by a pitch from Pirates starter Bubba Chandler a night earlier.
“I think they’re probably leaning toward some type of surgery,” Roberts said. “Four weeks is the floor for him to be back with us. Like I told him in the X-ray room, the season’s not over for him and we expect him back full health.”
The team recalled outfielder Alek Thomas from Triple-A Oklahoma City. Thomas was traded to the Dodgers in mid-May from the Arizona Diamondbacks. He'll play center against right-handed pitchers, while Tommy Edman and Kiké Hernández could see time against left-handers.
See AP’s full MLB coverage here
Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani warms up with a trainer prior to a baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Friday, Aug. 21, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani warms up with a trainer prior to a baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Friday, Aug. 21, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Atlanta Falcons quarterbacks Cooper Rush and Jack Strand took advantage of perhaps their last opportunity to shine this season.
They're about to be upstaged by the return of Michael Penix Jr.
Rush, who was signed last month, and Strand, an undrafted rookie, completed 16 of their first 17 throws while leading the Falcons to scores on five of their first six drives in a 34-6 rout of the Indianapolis Colts, snapping Atlanta's eight-game preseason losing streak.
After the game, coach Kevin Stefanski said Penix, who started nine games last season before suffering a season-ending knee injury, would return to team drills Monday.
“He is cleared, he is cleared for 11-on-11,” Stefanski said. “He’ll practice Monday in team periods.”
Penix's return should be closely watched by Falcons fans after offseason acquisition Tua Tagovailoa struggled in joint practice sessions with the Colts.
A first-round draft pick in 2024, Penix has been participating in position group work and seven-on-seven drills. On Thursday, he told reporters he would be talking with his doctor “soon” to determine his next step as he continues recovering from the third torn ACL of his pro and college career.
Meanwhile, with Tagovailoa and other starters sitting Saturday after two tough joint practices with the Colts, Rush and Strand were sharp for the Falcons.
Rush was 10 of 11 for 86 yards. Strand relieved him and finished 12 of 17 for 212 yards and a touchdown.
With both teams resting most of their regulars, Atlanta outgained Indianapolis 461 yards to 164 while rushing for 164 yards. The Falcons allowed just nine first downs and the Colts finished with eight penalties for 70 yards.
“I thought the offensive staff did a terrific job of thinking about how can we get this guy the ball or how can we hand it to him this way,” Stefanski said. “I thought Jack continued to take the practice field to the game field, and I thought Cooper really made good decisions.”
Meanwhile, the Colts still have questions at backup quarterback.
Riley Leonard played the first half and went 7 of 14 with 62 yards while facing heavy pressure, though he did lead the Colts to their only points — two field goals.
Anthony Richardson, Indy's first-round pick in 2023, played the second half and was 3 of 9 for 24 yards while taking two sacks. He started Indy's preseason opener and threw an interception and lost a fumble in the first half.
Leonard and Richardson combined to convert 1 of 11 third-down chances.
“It’s still ongoing,” coach Shane Steichen about the competition to become Daniel Jones' backup. “We’ve got a lot of belief and faith in both of those guys, so we’ll keep that going.”
Jones, who is coming back from a broken bone in his left leg and a torn right Achilles tendon, is one of many Colts who have not yet played in the preseason. Steichen has said he expects to play his starters in next week's preseason finale.
Tyler Goodson, a former Colt, ran for a 49-yard touchdown to make it 10-3. After Spencer Shrader's second field goal for Indy, Nathan Carter ran for a 1-yard touchdown and Strand connected with Cash for a 13-yard score to put Atlanta on top 24-6 at the half.
Strand scrambled for a 16-yard TD on the opening possession to the second half and the Falcons closed out the scoring with Nick Folk's 50-yard field goal on the first play of the fourth quarter.
Goodson finished with six carries for 59 yards.
Indy's kicking competition hasn't been settled. Shrader started strong last year before suffering a season-ending knee injury. Blake Grupe was signed late in the season and performed well.
Grupe appeared to have the edge before the preseason, but that gap may have narrowed Saturday. Shrader made kicks of 48 and 53 yards and Grupe missed a 38-yarder wide right.
“I think that's ongoing, but both those guys are starting kickers in this league,” Steichen said. “So it's going to be a big decision for us.”
Falcons: Close out the preseason Friday night at Miami.
Colts: Host Detroit next Saturday in their preseason finale.
See AP’s full NFL coverage here
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Jack Strand (18) celebrates a touchdown against the Indianapolis Colts during the second half of an NFL football game in Indianapolis, Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Jack Strand (18) runs for a touchdown against the Indianapolis Colts during the second half of an NFL football game in Indianapolis, Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Riley Leonard (15) throws during the first half of an NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons in Indianapolis, Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Cooper Rush (13) throws against the Indianapolis Colts during the first half of an NFL football game in Indianapolis, Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Atlanta Falcons running back Cash Jones (32) celebtes his touchdown with wide receiver Chris Blair (19) against the Indianapolis Colts during the first half of an NFL football game in Indianapolis, Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)
Atlanta Falcons running back Cash Jones (32) gets past Indianapolis Colts safety Daniel Scott (32) for a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game in Indianapolis, Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)
