Ohtani went 0 for 3 with a walk in the Dodgers’ 5-0 win, recording his final out on a seemingly routine two-hopper to the pitcher in the seventh inning.

When Ohtani’s spot in the order came in the ninth, however, Kiké Hernández walked to the plate as a pinch-hitter.

“I got word before his fourth at-bat that his back tightened up,” Roberts said. “Being 5-0, we didn’t want to push it. So we’ll see how he comes in tomorrow.”

Through a Dodgers public relations official, Ohtani declined to speak to reporters after the win.

While Roberts described the decision to remove Ohtani as “precautionary,” any injury involving the two-time MVP will raise alarm bells for the organization.

The 29-year-old Ohtani has been the Dodgers’ best player this season, batting .352 (second in the majors) with 11 home runs (tied for fourth), 27 RBIs (tied for 13th) and a major-league-leading 1.090 OPS.

Ohtani has also missed only one game so far this year, a routine day off May 1 during the team’s road trip to Arizona.

The two-way star has been rehabbing his pitching elbow after a Tommy John surgery last year, including an every-other-day throwing program he began in late March. However, Ohtani has said repeatedly that the ailment has no effect on his swing.