San Diego Padres shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. took live batting practice in Pittsburgh on Thursday morning, and his manager, Jayce Tingler, said the team is "optimistic" that he'll be available for Friday's game against the division-rival Los Angeles Dodgers.
Friday marks the first day Tatis is eligible to be activated off the injured list since suffering a subluxation of his left shoulder during a violent swing on April 5, his third reported issue with that shoulder in a span of 23 days. Subluxations, which is when the shoulder essentially slips out of its position in the socket but doesn't fully dislocate, often lead to surgery.