Ohtani to face hitters Saturday for 1st time in pitching rehab with Dodgers

NEW YORK >> Shohei Ohtani is scheduled to face hitters Saturday for the first time in his recovery from right elbow surgery.

The two-way superstar will throw live batting practice at Citi Field before the Los Angeles Dodgers play the New York Mets, manager Dave Roberts announced Friday.

It’s the next step for Ohtani as he works toward returning to the mound. He had surgery on Sept. 19, 2023, the second major operation on his right elbow since he arrived in the majors, and he hasn’t pitched in a big league game since Aug. 23 that year for the Los Angeles Angels.

“It’s a progression. Progress for Shohei,” Roberts said. “He doesn’t tip his hand very often, as far as emotions. But I don’t see how he couldn’t feel that it’s starting to become more realistic.”

There is no target date yet for Ohtani’s pitching debut with the Dodgers, though expectations are it could come in July.

Berlin wants to host the Olympics again as 100th anniversary of 1936 Games looms

BERLIN >> Berlin is making a bid to host the Olympics again, possibly 100 years after the city hosted the 1936 Games under the Nazis.

Berlin Mayor Kai Wegner is to present bid plans, with help from four other German states, on Tuesday at Berlin’s Olympic Stadium.

The invitation sent on Friday to the presentation does not mention which Games the city is bidding for, but the next available edition will be in 2036 — the 100th anniversary of the Berlin Games. The German Olympic Sports Confederation has said a German bid for the 2040 Games is also possible.

Los Angeles is hosting the 2028 Olympics and Brisbane the 2032 Olympics.

The states of Brandenburg, Saxony, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, and Schleswig-Holstein would also host competitions as part of Berlin’s bid.

Del Toro adds 5 seconds to his Giro lead and Pedersen wins his fourth stage

VICENZA, Italy >> Mexican rider Isaac Del Toro keeps on adding to his Giro d’Italia lead — even if it’s just a few seconds per day.

Del Toro’s third-place finish in the 13th stage on Friday, which had a short but steep uphill finale, extended his lead over UAE Team Emirates teammate Juan Ayuso by five seconds.

Danish rider Mads Pedersen claimed his fourth stage win of the race with a burst of acceleration up to the Monte Berico sanctuary.

Wout van Aert crossed second with the same time as Pedersen, and Del Toro finished third, two seconds behind but three seconds ahead of all the other overall contenders.

For the second straight day, Del Toro also picked up a two-second bonus during an intermediate sprint with 10 kilometers to go, while Ayuso picked up four seconds.

In the overall standings, Del Toro leads Ayuso by 38 seconds, with Antonio Tiberi 1:18 back in third.

Simon Yates was fourth, 1:20 behind, and Primoz Roglic fifth, 1:35 behind.

Del Toro became the first Mexican to lead the Giro on Sunday when he finished second.

“All the riders from the top 20 are crazily strong. They are Grand Tours winners, podium finishers, etc. and I’m the new guy here,” Del Toro said. “Maybe on paper I’m not the favorite but I have to be strong and listen to the guys in the team.”

— The Associated Press