Shohei Ohtani Set to Return Wednesday as Dodgers Chase Playoff Spot

Star player Shohei Ohtani is ready to come back. The Los Angeles Dodgers announced Tuesday that Ohtani would return to the lineup on Wednesday after spending time on the injured list with a right biceps injury and a sore left knee. With the playoffs just around the corner, the Dodgers are doing everything they can to get their best players back on the field.

Manager Dave Roberts said Ohtani is feeling much better than he did when he first went on the injured list. 'I would say if he was a five, he's probably an eight or a nine right now,' Roberts said before Tuesday's game. That is great news for a team that is counting on Ohtani to be a key player in the postseason.

The Dodgers also welcomed back two other important players before Tuesday's game. Center fielder Andy Pages, who had a fractured left hand, and pitcher Roki Sasaki, who had a blister on his right middle finger, were both taken off the injured list. To make room on the roster, the team sent pitcher Emmet Sheehan and catcher Eliézer Alfonzo down to their minor league team in Oklahoma City.

The Dodgers had even more to celebrate on Tuesday night. Eight pitchers combined to shut out the San Diego Padres 7-0 in the first game of their series. The win also trimmed the Dodgers' magic number to clinch a first-round bye down to just one, meaning they are very close to earning a week off before the playoffs start.

In other baseball news, the Oakland Athletics beat the Los Angeles Angels 9-7 on Tuesday night. The A's trailed 6-0 at one point but came all the way back to win. Carlos Cortes hit a two-run home run in the eighth inning to give the A's the lead, and Zack Gelof added another two-run homer to seal the comeback.

On the basketball court, WNBA star Nneka Ogwumike is getting ready to play her final game as a Los Angeles Spark on Thursday. Ogwumike, who leads the Sparks in scoring and rebounding, announced her retirement after 15 years in the league. She said she is at peace with her decision and is mostly feeling grateful for the career she has had.

The Sparks dropped their Tuesday night game to the Las Vegas Aces, 89-79. Four-time MVP A'ja Wilson led the Aces with 18 points and 10 rebounds. The win helped Las Vegas clinch at least a third seed in the WNBA playoffs and gave the Aces home-court advantage in the first round.

Over in football, the Los Angeles Rams are not sure whether wide receiver Puka Nacua will play in Sunday's game against the Denver Broncos. Nacua missed Monday night's win over the New York Giants because of groin soreness. Coach Sean McVay said he is hopeful Nacua will be ready but is not certain yet.

Finally, the United States men's national soccer team is starting a new chapter after a disappointing World Cup exit. Coach Mauricio Pochettino called up a 28-man roster for the team's first training camp of the new four-year cycle. The group mixes 13 players from the World Cup squad with 12 players making their first appearance with the senior national team.