Tonight would be great night for Albert Pujols to hit homer No. 660

News and notes

• It looks as if we’re getting closer to a return date for shortstop Andrelton Simmons. “He’s doing better,” manager Joe Maddon said. “The big thing is how he feels the next day. When he feels comfortable and the staff feels comfortable, he’ll be cleared to go. Tomorrow morning will be very telling. He was a little sore going to one side. It’s not painful.”

Simmons has only played in four games this season, with his last game being July 27.

• Cam Bedrosian is “still not 100 percent” with his oblique, according to Maddon. There is no timetable for his return, they are still in the waiting sage.
• Shohei Ohtani isn’t in the lineup today, but it’s just a day off. “I just wanted to give him a day to work to solidify things he’s doing in the box,” Maddon said. “I just thought everything added up to give him a day.”
• If Albert Pujols hits a home run tonight, it will be his 660th, tying him with Willie Mays. for fifth all-time. “That would be kind of cool,” Maddon said since they’re playing the Giants. It would be a nice moment for everybody involved. He’s had a couple days off, I like the matchup, we’ll see how it plays out.”

There’s also this cool tidbit.