Shohei Ohtani was taken out of the Los Angeles Dodgers’ 8‑6 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates in the seventh inning on Thursday after reporting knee discomfort. manager Dave Roberts described the move as proactive and said the risk to the MVP‑candidate’s health is "not high," expecting him to be back in the lineup for the next game.

Ohtani pulled in 7th inning of 8-6 win over Pirates

During the seventh inning, Ohtani attempted to steal a base on a foul ball and immediately felt a twinge in his knee/hamstring area, prompting a substitution. Santiago Espinal pinch‑hit for the two‑way star in the leadoff spot, and the Dodgers held on to win 8‑6. The decision came just after starter Justin Wrobleski exited with a right hamtring contusion, adding to the Thursday night injury concerns.

Roberts says low concern after knee discomfort

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told reporters that his "concern is not high" and emphasized that the removal was a precaution rather than a sign of a serious setback. "We want to make sure he's good for Friday," Roberts added, underscoring the team's confidence in Ohtani’s quick recovery. According to the report, Roberts expects Ohtani to be in the lineup on Friday, a reassurance for a club that leads the NL West comfortably.

Ohtani’s 2019 knee surgery still looms in discusssions

Ohtani’s knee issue is not new; he underwent surgery in 2019 for a bipartite patella that ended his season that year. While he has returned to elite form,the lingering history makes any knee compliant noteworthy. As the source notes, Ohtani currently tops the National League with a .962 OPS and a .421 on‑base percentage, and his 1.06 ERA would lead MLB if he qualified for the title.

MVP and Cy Young chatter intensifies despite injury scare

The two‑way star is the leading candidate for his fifth MVP award and is also in the conversation for his first Cy Young Award. A prolonged absence would have been a major blow to the Dodgers’ title aspirations, especially as they sit atop the division. As of Thursday, Ohtani’s statistical dominance underscores why any health issue draws immediate attention.

Will Ohtani start Friday’s game?

The lingering question is whetehr Ohtani will indeed take the field on Friday as Roberts predicts. No official lineup has been released, and the Dodgers have not provided a medical update beyond Roberts’ confidence. Additionally, the impact of back‑to‑back injuries to Wrobleski and Ohtani on the team’s bullpen depth remains uncertain.