Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani is out of Friday's lineup against the Chicago White Sox, one day after exiting a game early with left knee inflammation.
Santiago Espinal will DH in Ohtani's place and hit eighth, while left fielder Alex Call was moved up to the leadoff spot.
Espinal pinch hit for Ohtani in the top of the seventh inning of Thursday's game in Pittsburgh. Ohtani was having a great night at the plate, going 2-for-2 with a homer, two walks, and two runs scored prior to his removal.
Following Thursday's win over the Pirates, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told reporters that Ohtani felt "discomfort" in the back of his left knee while running the bases earlier in the game and was taken out as a precaution, according to Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register. Ohtani underwent left knee surgery in September 2019 while a member of the Los Angeles Angels.
"Just wanted to be smart and not push it," Roberts said Thursday, according to Maddie Lee of the Los Angeles Times. "So I feel good about him being in there tomorrow. But obviously with the travel tonight, we'll just kind of see how he comes in."
Roberts described his level of concern about Ohtani's injury as "not high," according to Jack Harris of the California Post, but added that the two-way phenom was scheduled for more testing in Chicago. Imaging on his knee returned clean, Roberts said Friday, and he's now being considered day-to-day, per Harris.
Shohei Ohtani had imaging done on his left knee today, Dave Roberts said, which came back clean. Dodgers just wanted to give him an extra day.
— Fabian Ardaya (@FabianArdaya) June 12, 2026
“Not an IL situation,” Roberts said.
It's been another stellar season on both sides of the ball for the four-time MVP. Ohtani's slashing .305/.421/.543 with 13 homers, 40 RBIs, and six steals over 298 plate appearances while also sporting a 1.06 ERA and 0.84 WHIP with 73 strikeouts across 11 starts as a pitcher.
Dodgers starter Justin Wrobleski was also hurt earlier in Thursday's game. Wrobleski exited because of a right hamstring contusion sustained when he was hit by a comebacker, then tripped while covering first base moments later. Like with Ohtani, Roberts expressed confidence that Wrobleski, who's in the midst of a breakout season, will be able to make his next start on schedule, according to Harris.
The first-place Dodgers can ill afford for anyone else on the team to get hurt. L.A. currently has 15 players on the injured list, including slugger Teoscar Hernández, two-time Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell, and star closer Edwin Díaz. Catcher Will Smith was placed on the IL with neck inflammation prior to Thursday's game.
