CHICAGO (AP) — Shohei Ohtani took his spot back in the Los Angeles Dodgers starting lineup Saturday following a one-game absence due to left knee inflammation.
The star player batted leadoff as designated hitter when the Dodgers faced the Chicago White Sox. Ohtani had exited Thursday evening’s 8-6 victory over Pittsburgh during the seventh inning, then sat out Friday’s 8-2 defeat in Chicago to open the series.
“We took him out of the game the other night just for precautionary,” manager Dave Roberts said Saturday. “Yesterday, treated it up, today he feels great. All the confidence that he can go out there and hit, feel good, not regress at all.”
The 31-year-old Ohtani is still set to take the mound Wednesday versus Tampa Bay. The 6-foot-4 right-hander checked how his knee responded to his pitching mechanics by throwing in the outfield prior to Saturday’s contest against the White Sox.
Ohtani, who underwent left knee surgery in September 2019, is hitting .305 with 13 home runs and 40 RBIs across 67 games for the NL West-leading team. As a pitcher, the defending NL MVP holds a 6-2 record with a 1.06 ERA through 11 starts.
Roberts also mentioned that Justin Wrobleski should make his next planned start Tuesday against the Rays. The left-handed pitcher departed Thursday night’s game in the fifth inning with a left hamstring contusion.
“Yesterday I talked to him and he is a little sore, which is understandable, but he’ll be ready to go on Tuesday,” Roberts said.
The 54-year-old Roberts will be absent for Sunday’s series conclusion against the White Sox. Bench coach Danny Lehmann will manage the team while Roberts attends his daughter’s college graduation.
