​The Los Angeles Dodgers scratched two-way sensation Shohei Ohtani from his scheduled start on Friday after he has been dealing with a lingering knee issue. The club cited “continued irritation in his left knee” as the reason for pulling him from the mound, a development first reported by Katie Woo of The Athletic. In a move that underscores the severity of his knee condition, the Dodgers announced that Ohtani would not participate in the All-Star Game and would instead serve as the designated hitter over the weekend. They also indicated that he would undergo interventions on his knee shortly after the series with the Diamondbacks.
According to the Dodgers, Ohtani will not start tonight’s game against Arizona because of the ongoing irritation in his left knee. He will remain in the lineup as the designated hitter for the remainder of the weekend. After the Diamondbacks series, he is scheduled to receive knee interventions aimed at placing him in the best possible position for the second half of the season. The team added that, as a result of these developments, he will be unable to travel to Philadelphia to participate in the 2026 All-Star Game.
This news is understandably disappointing for Dodgers fans hoping to see Ohtani showcase his talents in a midseason showcase. The combination of ongoing knee discomfort and the decision to prioritize rest and treatment over immediate game involvement reflects the careful approach the organization is taking with a player who, in addition to his pitching duties, remains a central bat in their lineup. The expectation moving forward is that the interventions and rest will help him return to full strength for the second half of a season in which he continues to be a marquee figure for the franchise.
If you’re looking for broader context, the situation also highlights the complex balance teams strike between managing a high-profile two-way player’s workload and maintaining competitiveness throughout a long season. Ohtani’s absence from the mound temporarily reduces the Dodgers’ starting-pitching options, but his continued presence as the designated hitter allows him to contribute offensively while the medical staff addresses the knee issue. As the team proceeds with these planned interventions, fans will await further updates on his recovery timeline and return to pitching duties.
In other notes, this decision comes with added implications for the Dodgers’ rotation and lineup as they navigate a demanding schedule. The short-term impact includes a shift in bullpen responsibilities and strategic calls for other starters who will need to pick up extra innings. Over the longer term, the hope remains that the knee issue can be resolved promptly, enabling Ohtani to resume both his pitching and hitting roles at full capacity as the season progresses toward the second half.