Friday’s “First Call” shares an update on Shohei Ohtani after he left Thursday’s game against the Pirates with an injury.

We also examine the Pirates’ next opponent, the latest heroics from former Penguin Jordan Staal in the Stanley Cup Final. And we try to get a feel for Joey Porter Jr.’s contractual situation.

Who is next?

After signing Nick Herbig and Darnell Washington to large contract extensions, many are wondering if Joey Porter Jr. and Keeanu Benton will get the same treatment.

In a recent ESPN.com post, Bill Barnwell went position-by-position to determine who would get the next big contract in the NFL. At cornerback, he settled on Porter.

“Between Porter, Christian Gonzalez of the Patriots, DJ Turner II of the Bengals and Devon Witherspoon of the Seahawks, there are four corners who could credibly command market-setting deals from the 2023 class alone,” Barnwell said. “Gonzalez and Witherspoon are represented by the same agency, which complicates their negotiations and makes it easier to play the waiting game. They’re also first-round picks, leaving them with fifth-year options in 2028.”

So that leaves Turner and Porter in the AFC North. And, as second-rounders, their extensions become more important because, unlike Gonzalez and Witherspoon, Turner and Porter are entering their walk years.

“The Bengals aren’t exactly known for being prompt with negotiations, and after Pittsburgh signed linebacker Nick Herbig and tight end Darnell Washington to extensions in recent weeks, Porter and defensive tackle Keeanu Benton should be next up for the Steelers,” Barnwell said.

Indeed, and if those other guys got paid, I don’t know why Porter Jr. wouldn’t.

Barnwell says Trent McDuffie of the Los Angeles Rams has the highest annual average value at $31 million per year.

Can’t be stopped

The Carolina Hurricanes are a win away from the Stanley Cup. They beat Vegas, 4-2, in Game 5 of the Cup Final series Thursday night.

The victory gives the Hurricanes a 3-2 series lead with Game 6 coming up Sunday in Las Vegas.

Jordan Staal scored yet again for the Canes. His sixth goal of the series tied the game at 1-1 in the first period.

The former Penguin now has eight postseason goals this year. The last person to have at least one goal in each of the first five games of a Stanley Cup Final was Jean Beliveau in 1956.

During his six years in Pittsburgh, Staal had 23 goals in 73 playoff games.

Miami movin’ up

The Pirates just got done playing the two best teams in the National League, dropping five of six to the Los Angeles Dodgers and Atlanta Braves. Now they have to host one of the hottest teams in the NL.

The Miami Marlins may only be in fourth place in the NL East at 34-35, but they have won five games in a row and eight of their last 10.

The club just polished off a sweep of the Arizona Diamondbacks with a 2-0 win on Thursday. Tyler Phillips got the victory after five innings of shutout baseball. Miami’s bullpen allowed just one hit and a walk the rest of the way.

Shortstop Otto Lopez had two more hits. He is leading Major League Baseball with 93 hits and a .344 batting average. He also has 13 stolen bases. Catcher Liam Hicks leads the team with 13 home runs and 48 RBIs. Only six players have more RBIs in all of baseball.

That series against the Diamondbacks was at home. The Marlins have really struggled outside of Florida, though. They only have 11 road wins. That’s the lowest total in all of the National League.

Sandy Alcantara starts Game 1 Friday at PNC Park for Miami (5-4, 4.33 ERA). He’ll be opposed by Braxton Ashcraft (5-3, 3.28) for Pittsburgh. Ashcraft’s last start was his worst since the end of April. He yielded six earned runs to the Atlanta Braves in just five innings.

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Oh, no, Ohtani!

Reigning National League MVP Shohei Ohtani was injured during Thursday night’s game at PNC Park. He was lifted for a pinch hitter in the seventh inning of Los Angeles’ 8-6 win over the Pirates after experiencing inflammation of his knee.

Ohtani had already singled, homered, walked twice and scored twice by that point in the game.

Manager Dave Roberts told SportNet L.A. that his level of concern about Ohtani’s knee was “not high.”

“We tried to be smart about it and get him out of the game,” Roberts said. “He told the trainer that he felt a little something behind his knee, and I just didn’t see any sense in risking it.”

Roberts added that he “feels good” about Ohtani being in the lineup Friday against the Chicago White Sox but wouldn’t make any promises.

Ohtani’s .964 OPS leads the National League. His 132 total bases are tied for sixth in the NL.

LISTEN: Tim Benz hosts his weekly Fantasy Sports podcast with Jeff Erickson.