Shohei Ohtani is scratched from his pitching start on Friday for the Los Angeles Dodgers due to left knee pain, but he still plays as the team’s designated hitter. Despite not taking the mound, Ohtani hits a leadoff home run in his first plate appearance at Dodger Stadium against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Both reports describe the same sequence: Ohtani was originally scheduled to pitch, then is pulled from the start because of his injured knee, and he remains in the lineup to bat. The Dodgers ultimately lose the game, according to the accounts, with Ohtani’s home run standing out as a major offensive moment after his pitching is ruled out. The Athletic and New York Post both characterize his appearance as immediate and impactful, noting that he contributes power even after being unable to pitch.