The Los Angeles Dodgers may have secured an 8-6 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Thursday night, but the triumph was immediately overshadowed by a wave of anxiety. In the top of the seventh inning, superstar Shohei Ohtani was abruptly pulled from the game for a pinch hitter. The team quickly diagnosed the issue as left knee inflammation, an injury that manager Dave Roberts downplayed postgame as a precautionary move. Roberts noted that Ohtani felt discomfort behind the knee, likely sustained while running the bases. Though management initially expressed optimism that he would return to the lineup immediately, the Dodgers elected to exercise extreme caution, holding Ohtani out of the starting lineup for Friday's series opener against the Chicago White Sox.
Losing Ohtani for any stretch of time is a staggering blow, primarily because he is putting together another historic, All-Star caliber season on both sides of the ball. At the plate, Ohtani is tearing through June, carrying a spectacular .305 batting average with 13 home runs and 40 RBIs. Right before his exit against Pittsburgh, he was perfect on the night, going 2-for-2 with two walks and a massive solo home run. But his value isn't just trapped in the batter's box; he has been equally dominant on the mound. As a starting pitcher, Ohtani has pitched his way into the Cy Young conversation with a 6-2 record, a microscopic 1.06 ERA, and 73 strikeouts across 67.2 innings pitched. Finding one player to replace elite leadoff production is hard enough; replacing an elite starting pitcher simultaneously is impossible.
To understand how long Ohtani might be sidelined, his extensive injury history provides critical context. While baseball fans best remember his two major Tommy John elbow surgeries, Ohtani is no stranger to lower-body issues. Back in 2019, his season ended early due to surgery for a bipartite patella in his left knee—the exact same leg experiencing this week's inflammation. He has also navigated hamstring tightness and blister issues throughout his career. While inflammation can sometimes be quieted with a few days of rest and anti-inflammatories, the fact that it is the same knee that previously required surgery means the Dodgers' medical staff will tread incredibly lightly.
Sponsored Content
Fortunately for Los Angeles, the immediate upcoming schedule is remarkably forgiving, providing the perfect window to give their franchise cornerstone some much-needed rest. The Dodgers are currently starting a three-game series against the struggling Chicago White Sox, followed by matchups against the Tampa Bay Rays and the Minnesota Twins.
Because they aren't facing a gauntlet of division rivals or top-tier powerhouses over the next week, the Dodgers are well-positioned to survive this short-term stretch without him. The roster still boasts an elite nucleus featuring Freddie Freeman, Mookie Betts, and Will Smith, which is more than enough firepower to handle below-.500 opponents. By capitalizing on this lighter stretch of the schedule, Los Angeles can afford to keep Ohtani completely off his feet, ensuring his knee is fully healed before they ramp him back up for the grueling summer stretch and an inevitable October postseason run.