Shohei Ohtani is scratched from his scheduled pitching start due to left knee pain in Friday’s game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Arizona Diamondbacks. Despite not pitching, Ohtani remains in the lineup as the designated hitter. In his first at-bat, he hits a leadoff home run, giving the Dodgers an early boost. The outlets agree that the decision to pull Ohtani from pitching is related to the knee issue, but they also describe that he is still available to bat immediately after the change. The Dodgers ultimately lose the game to the Diamondbacks. The reports emphasize the contrast between Ohtani’s limited role on the mound and his continued impact at the plate, where he delivers the leadoff homer at Dodger Stadium. The team’s pitching plans shift because of the injury, while Ohtani’s offensive production continues in the DH spot.