Tuesday, August 19

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With six weeks remaining in the regular season, the Dodgers have a lot of work to do when it comes to protecting the National League West lead they reclaimed over the weekend and putting themselves in position for a deep postseason run. 

Fortunately for them, they should have some reinforcements on the way very soon. 

Tanner Scott, Kirby Yates, Kiké Hernández and Hyeseong Kim are all slated to begin rehab assignments this week with Triple-A Oklahoma City, per manager Dave Roberts. Scott and Yates will join the team on Tuesday, while Roberts did not specify a date for Hernández and Kim. 

There will be a heavy Dodgers presence with the Comets, who are in Tacoma to face the Mariners' Triple-A affiliate this week. Roki Sasaki and Michael Kopech also began rehab assignments with Oklahoma City last Thursday.

All six of the players rehabbing with the Comets this week should be on track to return to the Dodgers by early September, with most due back before the end of August. Here's a rough breakdown of when everyone is expected to be activated:

Yates, Scott and Kopech

Yates (lower back pain) and Scott (left elbow inflammation) may not need too many outings before returning, as neither was shut down from throwing for long. Both have been able to use their time on the IL to hone their mechanics. 

For Yates, a focus has been getting a better feel for his splitter. For Scott, the aim has been getting back to a delivery that more closely resembles what he was doing during his more successful runs this season. The two back-end arms might be options to return as soon as this weekend in San Diego, and probably early in the next homestand that begins on Monday at the latest. 

Kopech (right knee meniscectomy) is a different case, as he's not eligible to be activated from the 60-day IL until Aug. 27. As long as all continues to progress in the right direction, it would not be surprising if he returns right on schedule. 

Hernández and Kim

Swinging was the biggest hurdle for both Hernández (left elbow inflammation) and Kim (left shoulder bursitis). Both ramped up their hitting progressions over the past week, to the point where they're now ready for game action. 

Hernández and Kim would also seem to be on schedule to return sometime during the next homestand. Getting the two of them back would help solidify the infield, which has been hit the hardest of the Dodgers' position player groups with Max Muncy and Tommy Edman likely out until some point in September. 

Sasaki

The rehab process for Sasaki (right shoulder impingement) is a little more complicated. Sasaki made his first start for the Comets last Thursday, throwing two-plus innings rather than getting through three, as had been planned. He averaged 93.6 mph with his fastball after sitting 96-97 mph in a live session the week prior. 

But building up his workload is not the only aim while Sasaki's on rehab. The Dodgers also want him to build the confidence that he needs in order to be able to attack big league hitters with conviction, a quality the team feels has not always been there this season. 

With the Dodgers already using a six-man rotation, there's not an immediate need for Sasaki to return. They can afford for him to take some time to figure things out, if needed, which would perhaps push his return beyond early September. 

"It's the dawg, right? We still have that. That doesn't just go away. Every single one of us, we're leaning on each other. And we know as a group how good we are. The last three games, it's shown, and that's from one guy picking up the next. We kind of call it passing the torch. You get kicked down in this game from time to time, right? We put our heads down and keep going." -- Alex Vesia, on the Dodgers' bullpen during the series against the Padres

… in the regular season, at least. 

In recent years, meetings between the Dodgers and Padres have never lacked for intensity. This season has been no different. 

Emotions boiled over to conclude a pair of wild series in June. This weekend in L.A., it was more of a steady simmer as the Dodgers pulled off a statement sweep to go from one game behind the Padres in the NL West to two games ahead. 

Los Angeles has taken eight of the first 10 contests, with just three to go this weekend in San Diego. This will be the last time the division rivals see each other this season -- unless, of course, they meet again in the postseason for a rematch of last year's NL Division Series.

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