​PHILADELPHIA — MLB will be without its two biggest stars for this year’s All-Star Game events. Dodgers two-way phenom Shohei Ohtani, the two-time reigning National League MVP and by far the NL ASG vote leader, will skip the All-Star Game to receive treatment on his left knee. The pain Ohtani experiences when he pitches, but not when he hits, has led him to forego his final pitching start before the midseason showcase. In addition, he is set to have fluid drained from that left knee on Sunday. “He’s been managing this quite well, the knee, and so if there’s a chance that we could be proactive and get it drained and do whatever we need to do to try to manage it, along with the rest for the All-Star break, we were going to do that,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said.
With Ohtani’s absence, he will join Aaron Judge, the Yankees outfielder and two-time reigning American League MVP who sits second in AL All-Star voting behind Blue Jays second baseman Ernie Clement, despite having not played in nearly six weeks. Judge has been on the injured list since early June with a rib stress fracture and is planning to use part of the All-Star break to have his rib re-imaged. Meanwhile, the Dodgers continue to lead MLB and pursue a third straight World Series title, even as the Yankees have stumbled to a 15–17 mark since Judge went on the IL. “I don’t think we’re anticipating it’s coming back clean,” Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said of the forthcoming scan, adding that there is hope it will show healing progress.
The absence of these two global superstars represents a significant blow for MLB as it launches its full slate of All-Star activities this weekend, aiming to recapture some of the sports spotlight that has shifted to the NBA Finals and the ongoing World Cup, which have drawn record audiences. Ohtani and Judge have long been among fans’ favorites and ranked first and second in jersey sales last year. With both players out of Philadelphia, the events are likely to lean even more toward the Phillies’ local stars.
Philadelphia designated hitter Kyle Schwarber, who leads MLB in home runs, is poised to start at DH for the National League in place of Ohtani and is one of eight scheduled competitors in Monday’s Home Run Derby at Citizens Bank Park. Schwarber is no stranger to All-Star excitement, having earned the game’s MVP honor last year after his standout performance, including a first-ever tiebreaker victory. Another of the eight contestants in the derby is Schwarber’s Phillies teammate, first baseman Bryce Harper. MLB commissioner Rob Manfred had earlier this month used one of his “legend picks” for the All-Star Game on Harper, despite a labor-related dispute between the two last year. “Definitely grateful for that,” Harper commented on the selection, noting it as a boost for his All-Star journey.