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Shohei Ohtani is back in the Dodgers lineup Saturday, slotting in as the leadoff designated hitter for the second game of our series against the Chicago White Sox, per Dodger Blue. He was held out of Friday’s series opener despite earlier optimism that he’d play, making this his first game action since leaving Thursday’s contest with left knee inflammation.

The timeline here has moved quickly — and in the right direction. Ohtani was pulled from Thursday’s game after experiencing discomfort in the same left knee that underwent UCL-adjacent surgery during the 2023-24 offseason and required careful management throughout his first full season as a two-way player in Dodger blue. Given his history, any knee issue immediately raises the collective blood pressure of the entire fanbase (and front office). That he missed just one game is about as good an outcome as we could’ve hoped for. Ohtani entered this stretch slashing well above league average and continuing to establish himself as one of the most dangerous leadoff hitters in baseball — a role that seemed unconventional when Dave Roberts first penciled him there but has proven remarkably effective. His ability to set the table with power and patience at the top of the order has become foundational to how this lineup operates.

The fact that he’s back at DH rather than being asked to play the field makes sense as a middle-ground approach. It keeps his bat in the lineup while limiting the physical stress on the knee — no running the bases aggressively, no awkward movements tracking down fly balls. It’s smart, cautious management, and exactly what you want to see from the staff when handling a player of Ohtani’s caliber and importance.

I’ll be watching closely to see how he moves in the box and whether there’s any visible hesitation on swings that load the front leg. One game back doesn’t mean the issue is fully behind him, but it does confirm what Roberts and the medical staff suggested earlier in the week — this wasn’t headed toward an IL stint. For a team already dealing with Will Smith sidelined behind the plate and a pitching staff navigating its own health concerns, getting Ohtani back this quickly is a genuine relief.

The White Sox matchup is a soft landing, too. Chicago’s pitching staff has been among the most hittable in the American League this season, which makes this an ideal spot to ease Ohtani back in without needing him to carry the offense single-handedly. If he looks comfortable today, I’d expect him right back in the same spot tomorrow for the series finale. The bigger test comes next week when the competition level ticks up, but for now, we take the good news and move forward. Getting your best player back after a one-game absence when the initial optics looked scary? That’s a win before the first pitch is even thrown.

Source(s): Staff (Dodger Blue) | First reported: June 13, 2026 5:38 PM UTC

God Bless and Go Dodgers