Dodgers map out Shohei Ohtani return with Roki Sasaki, Andy Pages roster moves

The Los Angeles Dodgers are pacing toward having a first-round bye, avoiding the NL Wild Card round, and it would seem they are getting healthy at just the right time. The expectation in recent weeks was that Shohei Ohtani, Andy Pages, and Roki Sasaki would return before the end of the regular season, and the Dodgers quietly revealed the roster moves to map everything out.

Updating their transaction log overnight, the Dodgers have reinstated Pages and Sasaki from the IL, and optioned Emmet Sheehan and Eliezer Alfonzo to the minors. With Ohtani eligible to be reinstated from the IL on Wednesday, the expectation is that Alex Freeland will be the corresponding move.

For Ohtani and Pages, the goal was simply having them back before the start of the playoffs. They now have a runway to shake off the rust over these next handful of games, before likely having next week off before playing in the NLDS.

Circumstances are a little more dire for Sasaki, who hasn't secured a spot on LA's playoff roster. Dave Roberts has already confirmed that Sasaki will be used out of the bullpen upon his return, and it goes to one of the biggest questions facing the Dodgers ahead of the playoffs.

The Dodgers are getting healthy just in time, but there are still answers needed

The Dodgers need to find answers in the bullpen. Ironically, the stage is set for Sasaki to repeat a similar shift he made last season. While the Dodgers have been adamant that Sasaki's future is as a starting pitcher, he was used as a quasi-finisher during the playoffs last year, and thrived.

Considering the questions surrounding Edwin Diaz and Edgardo Henriquez currently dealing with an injury, Sasaki once again becoming an effective high-leverage option for the Dodgers would be a major development for the playoffs.

The story of the Dodgers since the trade deadline has been that they are leaking oil. Sure, they traded for Tarik Skubal, but the operation looked faulty. With the returns of Sasaki, Pages, and Ohtani likely on Wednesday, they are finally reaching a level of healthy they haven't had for most of the season.

In other words, despite how uneven things have looked, the Dodgers are once again in a position to do whay they do best and flip the swith on during the month of October.

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