What happened: Shohei Ohtani left Thursday's game in Pittsburgh after experiencing inflammation in his left knee during a fourth-inning stolen base attempt. Although he remained in the lineup for several innings, the Dodgers ultimately replaced him in the seventh as a precautionary measure.
Why it matters: The team remains optimistic about a quick return, though Ohtani’s history of procedures on that same knee warrants caution. Maintaining his health is paramount as he continues a dominant campaign featuring a league-leading 1.06 ERA and 13 home runs.
By the numbers: Ohtani leads the National League with a 1.06 ERA and 73 strikeouts. Offensively, he is batting .305 with 13 home runs for the first-place Dodgers (44-25).
What to watch: Ohtani will undergo pregame testing today to determine his availability for the series opener against the Chicago White Sox.