What happened: Shohei Ohtani was removed from the Los Angeles Dodgers' matchup against the Pittsburgh Pirates after experiencing left knee inflammation. The two-way star exited the contest in the top of the seventh inning and was replaced by pinch-hitter Santiago Espinal.
Why it matters: The injury comes as a blow to a Dodgers roster already dealing with several key absences. While Shohei Ohtani is currently considered day-to-day, his presence remains vital as Los Angeles maintains its lead in the NL West.
By the numbers: Ohtani was 2-for-2 with a solo home run and two runs scored prior to his departure. He currently holds a 0.74 ERA on the mound following his start earlier this week.
What to watch: Dodgers team officials will monitor the inflammation and may conduct further testing to determine the injury's severity.