Los Angeles

Dodgers

Espinal singled in the second inning off of Anthony Kay to put the Dodgers up 2-0. It would be the only two runs the Dodgers would score on the day, as Kay and the White Sox’s bullpen held the Dodgers to just four total hits on the day while allowing only one walk. Espinal served as the Dodgers’ designated hitter on Friday with Shohei Ohtani (knee) out of the lineup. If Ohtani returns to the lineup on Saturday, Espinal will likely be returned to the bench.

Sasaki retired the first two batters he faced in the game, but gave up a solo homer to Andrew Benintendi in the third at-bat of the game before retiring Colson Montgomery to end the inning. Sasaki briefly settled after allowing that first-inning homer, but the White Sox jumped all over him in the fifth inning. He faced only seven batters in the frame but allowed six of those hitters to reach base before being pulled for Blake Treinen, but Treinen would allow two inherited runners to score before eventually getting out of the inning. Sasaki entered the day allowing just four earned runs in his previous 19.1 innings pitched and hadn’t allowed more than four hits in any start over that span. He draws another tough start on Wednesday when the Dodgers play host to the Rays.

Ohtani underwent an MRI on his left knee, which revealed nothing more than normal wear and tear. Roberts noted that it won’t be a situation where Ohtani needs to go on the injured list and that he’ll return at some point this weekend. It’s an ongoing situation that fantasy managers should continue monitoring, but it doesn’t sound like a significant concern.

Ohtani was removed from Thursday’s game as a precautionary measure due to inflammation in his left knee. The Dodgers have opted to take a very cautious approach here with their two-way superstar and will give him at least an extra night off to rest. Santiago Espinal will fill in as the Dodgers’ designated hitter on Friday and will bat eighth against Anthony Kay and the White Sox.

Ohtani felt something in his knee during a stolen base attempt on a foul ball earlier in the game on Thursday and the Dodgers wanted to be proactive and give him a few innings off to end the game rather than pushing it. They’ll wait and see how he feels on Friday, but the expectation is that he’ll return to the lineup. Either way, he shouldn’t be looking at any sort of extended absence.

All things considered, it sounds like the 25-year-old southpaw was fortunate to have avoided any serious injuries after he was struck by a comebacker and then got tangled up with a baserunner while attempting to cover first base. He should be okay to make his next scheduled start, but check back over the next few days just to be on the safe side.

Tucker strolled to the dish with the bases loaded and two outs in the third inning and dumped a single into left field to plate two runs, extending the Dodgers’ early lead to 3-0. He then swiped second base before being left stranded there. That was his lone hit in five at-bats on the day while striking out three times. On the season, the 29-year-old outfielder is hitting a disappointing .237/.332/.382 with just five homers, 34 RBI and five stolen bases over 280 plate appearances.

Scott came on to get the final out in the eighth inning with a man on second base and two outs, and he got Brandon Lowe to fly out harmlessly to right field. He then stayed on for the ninth where he struck out Bryan Reynolds, Ryan O’Hearn and Spencer Horwitz in succession to end the ballgame. The 31-year-old southpaw now holds a 2.48 ERA and a 35/3 K/BB ratio over 28 2/3 innings on the season while notching seven saves.

Ohtani had homered for the second consecutive game and was 2-for-2 with a pair of walks and two runs scored before he was surprisingly pinch-hit for in the seventh inning, signaling that something was up. It’s the same knee that Ohtani had surgically repaired back in 2019, so they’re obviously going to proceed out of an abundance of caution. The Dodgers should have an update on his status after the game.

Wrobleski then got tangled up with the runner while covering first base on the play. He’ll head for further evaluation to see what’s going on. Before exiting, the 25-year-old southpaw had allowed four runs on six hits and a pair of walks in his 4 2/3 innings. He exits with a lead and one out shy of qualifying for a victory.