Shohei Ohtani exits game with left knee inflammation, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts says concern level is 'not high'

It appears Shohei Ohtani will be OK after a surprise exit from the Los Angeles Dodgers’ game on Thursday.

In the seventh inning of their game 8-6 win over the host Pittsburgh Pirates, the Dodgers pulled the two-way superstar in a two-run game, pinch-hitting him with Santiago Espinal in the leadoff spot. They soon announced Ohtani left the game with left knee inflammation.

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Starting pitcher Justin Wrobleski exited the game earlier with a right hamstring contusion. Ohtani has a history with that knee, as his 2019 season ended early due to surgery to repair a bipartite patella.

After the game, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told reporters that Ohtani felt something in his knee/hamstring area after a stolen base attempt on a foul ball, leading to a “proactive” decision to pull him via the California Post’s Jack Harris. Roberts said his level of concern for Ohtani was “not high” and that he feels good about Ohtani being in the lineup Friday.

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Before his exit, Ohtani was 2-for-2 with two walks and a homer, his second in as many days.

The Dodgers won the game 8-6.

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It goes without saying that a significant injury for Ohtani would have been a blow for the Dodgers, even with them sitting comfortably in first place in the NL West. Ohtani is currently the overwhelming favorite for his fifth career MVP award, and has an outside chance at his first Cy Young Award.

As of Thursday night, Ohtani leads the NL in OPS at .962 and on-base percentage at .421. His 1.06 ERA would lead MLB if he qualified for the ERA title, but he finished one out short of that threshold on Wednesday.