The Los Angeles Dodgers sighed with relief on Saturday as Shohei Ohtani returned to the starting lineup against the Chicago White Sox and led off as the designated hitter, Yankee Scores reports.
Ohtani missed Friday’s series opener against Chicago because of left knee inflammation. He left Thursday’s 8-6 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates to get imaging on his knee, which showed no structural damage.
Manager Dave Roberts confirmed the imaging was clear and emphasized it was never a disabled list issue; it was just a precaution to give Ohtani an extra day of rest.
Shohei Ohtani is BACK IN the Dodgers lineup today pic.twitter.com/LZeua8a1kM
— SleeperDodgers (@SleeperDodgers) June 13, 2026
Roberts Plays It Smart
“My hope is that he’s in there tomorrow. But if not, he’ll need another day,” Roberts said on Friday. “It’s something we can manage. Not an IL situation. Just seeing him today, he feels fine-ish. Giving him an extra day is the smart thing to do.”
The discomfort reportedly began during a stolen base attempt after a foul ball. Ohtani felt pain in his left knee and hamstring area. He described the soreness as being toward the back of his knee, where swelling often occurs.
The Stakes Are Sky-High
Losing Ohtani in any way would be a huge setback for LA. He leads the National League with a .964 OPS and ranks first among all MLB pitchers with at least 50 innings with a 1.06 ERA.
The Dodgers are 44-25 and hold an eight-game lead in the NL West as they chase a third consecutive championship after winning back-to-back World Series titles.
Ohtani’s next scheduled pitching start is set for Wednesday against the Tampa Bay Rays at Dodger Stadium. The Dodgers will be hoping his knee stays strong.
