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By Jon Paul Hoornstra
Contributing Sports Writer
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The Los Angeles Dodgers activated right-hander Roki Sasaki and All-Star outfielder Andy Pages from the injured list Monday, restoring two players expected to play important roles as the defending World Series champions prepare for the postseason.
To make room on the 26-man roster, the Dodgers optioned right-hander Emmet Sheehan and catcher Eliezer Alfonzo to Triple-A Oklahoma City.
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The moves came one day before the Dodgers open a three-game series against the San Diego Padres at Dodger Stadium. The series has postseason implications for both teams, with the Padres able to clinch a playoff berth and the Dodgers seeking to secure a first-round bye.
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Sasaki, 24, had been sidelined since late August because of a blister on his throwing hand. He is 5-5 with a 4.60 ERA and 117 strikeouts in 23 starts this season. Before his injury, Sasaki had posted a 3.05 ERA in seven starts after the All-Star break.
His role against the Padres has yet to be determined, but the Dodgers have been preparing him for a move to the bullpen for the postseason. Sasaki's return also gives Los Angeles another hard-throwing right-hander after reliever Edgardo Henriquez was placed on the injured list earlier in September with a back injury.
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Pages returns after missing nearly a month with a fractured right hand. The 25-year-old center fielder was injured Aug. 21 when he was hit by a 100.2 mph fastball from Pittsburgh's Bubba Chandler. He underwent surgery and is expected to have as many as six regular-season games to regain his timing before the playoffs.
Pages is hitting .272 with 21 home runs, 80 RBIs and a .797 OPS in his first full season as the Dodgers' everyday center fielder. He also made his first All-Star team in July. In his absence, the Dodgers shifted veteran utilityman Tommy Edman to center field.
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Sheehan was recalled by Los Angeles earlier this month after a stint with Oklahoma City. He allowed one run over his final three starts for the Comets from Aug. 12-29. He tossed 5.1 scoreless innings against San Francisco on Sunday for the Dodgers, but doesn't figure to be part of Los Angeles' postseason rotation.
Alfonzo also returns to Oklahoma City, which is preparing to play Las Vegas in the best-of-three Pacific Coast League championship series.
The Dodgers also expect designated hitter Shohei Ohtani to return during the Padres series, though he cannot be activated from the 15-day injured list before Wednesday.
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