Los Angeles (United States) (AFP) - The Los Angeles Dodgers are confident that their superstar Shohei Ohtani will soon regain physical fitness as they prepare to face the Atlanta Braves in the National League Division Series, and with their sights set on their third consecutive World Series title.

First modification: 02/10/2026 - 23:22

The four-time Major League MVP winner, who finished the regular season injured with lingering discomfort in his left knee and right biceps, has benefited from five days of rest for the Dodgers.

The ninth Angelina, which reached 100 victories, was exempt from playing in the first round of the postseason.

"I'm confident you'll see the best version of Shohei in the last two months," manager Dave Roberts said.

"I know the bar isn't high given his injury, but I think he's as healthy as he's been in a while. "Every day, according to the medical staff, he's getting better... he's going to be a threat in the lineup."

The Dodgers want to achieve their first three-time World Series championship since the New York Yankees won the title in 1998, 1999 and 2000.

This Saturday, Tarik Skubal is expected to be the starting pitcher in the first game of the best-of-five series against the Braves.

The challengers prepare

The Milwaukee Brewers, first seeded in the National League after winning 103 games in the regular season, will face the San Diego Padres.

In the American League, the Tampa Bay Rays (first seed) will face the Yankees, while the Cleveland Guardians (second seed) will face the Chicago White Sox.

The Chicago franchise had the support of Pope Leo XIV, a lifelong fan of the team, during its victory in the wild card series against the Houston Astros.

The Braves edged the Philadelphia Phillies 2-1 in the best-of-three wild card series, securing their sixth postseason matchup against the Dodgers.

Atlanta has been boosted by the mound dominance of Chris Sale and the resurgence of Tyler Mahle, while the Dodgers, even without Ohtani as a pitcher, have a formidable rotation that includes Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow, in addition to Skubal.

"Everyone knows the Dodgers are a powerhouse, but we played well against them this year," Braves manager Walt Weiss said.

The coach worked against the clock to define his squad while the team traveled to Los Angeles after beating Philadelphia 6-2 on Thursday and clinching the series.

"That doesn't carry as much weight. Once the playoffs start, everyone starts from scratch."

"The Dodgers are healthier now than when we saw them," Weiss noted.

Parents brimming with confidence

The Brewers finished with the best record in baseball for the second consecutive year and, after falling short of the World Series in each of their last nine playoff appearances, are determined to capitalize on their regular-season success.

However, they will face a team on a winning streak: the Padres, who clinched their postseason berth with a 16-5 record in September and swept the Chicago Cubs (2-0) in the wild-card series.

"They're playing very well and have a lot of talent; it's a team full of talent and confidence right now that has, as we all know, the best bullpen in baseball and some real megastars in their lineup," Brewers manager Pat Murphy said of the Padres.

The Brewers will entrust the start of the first game to pitcher Jacob Misiorowski, 24, known for his high-velocity deliveries.

Uncertainty surrounded the Yankees on their trip to Tampa Bay after eliminating the Boston Red Sox in the wild card round, despite the absence of their injured star, Aaron Judge.

Judge's participation in the division series was in doubt just a day before Saturday's opener; However, Rays manager Kevin Cash noted that New York posed a considerable offensive threat even without him.

"It's incredibly impressive the offensive success they've achieved while losing the best hitter in our game," Cash said.

© 2026 AFP

The content you requested does not exist or is no longer available.