Shohei Ohtani exits game due to left knee inflammation, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts says concern level is 'not high'
Shohei Ohtani left Thursday’s Dodgers game in the seventh inning due to left knee inflammation after a stolen base attempt, with manager Dave Roberts calling the concern level 'not high'. Ohtani was 2-for-2 with two walks and a home run before exiting, and the Dodgers remain in first place in the NL West despite the injury setback.
Los Angeles Dodgers two-way star Shohei Ohtani exited Thursday’s game against the Pittsburgh Pirates in the seventh inning due to left knee inflammation. The Dodgers substituted him with Santiago Espinal as a pinch hitter after Ohtani felt discomfort during a stolen base attempt on a foul ball. Manager Dave Roberts later stated the team’s concern level was 'not high' and confirmed Ohtani would start Friday’s game. Ohtani had a strong performance before leaving, going 2-for-2 with two walks and a home run, his second in as many days. Despite the injury history—including a 2019 season-ending bipartite patella surgery—Roberts expressed confidence in Ohtani’s recovery. The Dodgers, leading the NL West, also saw starting pitcher Justin Wrobleski exit earlier due to a right hamstring contusion. Ohtani remains a key player for the Dodgers, currently leading the NL in OPS (.962) and on-base percentage (.421). Though his 1.06 ERA would lead MLB if he qualified, he fell one out short of the threshold Wednesday. A significant injury would still impact the team’s playoff push, though Roberts downplayed immediate concerns. The Dodgers won 8-6, and Ohtani’s status for Friday’s game will be monitored closely. His dual-threat capabilities as both pitcher and hitter make him invaluable to the team’s postseason ambitions.
This content was automatically generated and/or translated by AI. It may contain inaccuracies. Please refer to the original sources for verification.