The Los Angeles Dodgers have announced that two-way player Shohei Ohtani will not pitch tonight, nor will he be available to participate in next week’s All-Star Game. Instead of traveling to Philadelphia, Ohtani will use the time off to undergo “some interventions” on his left knee. He will, however, continue to serve as designated hitter. Los Angeles will have a bullpen game in the first game of a series against the division-rival Arizona Diamondbacks.
Shohei Ohtani will not make his scheduled start on the mound this evening against the D-backs due to continued irritation in his left knee. He will serve as the designated hitter the rest of the weekend, but following the series against the D-backs he will have some interventions…
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) July 10, 2026
Ohtani Will Miss All-Star Game
Managing the Workload of an Irreplaceable Player
The Dodgers have been conscious of the demands of the baseball unicorn on their hands. They have been choosing to rest Ohtani’s bat occasionally when it’s his turn to take the mound. The four-time Most-Valuable Player has flourished in his unique two-way role thus far this season. He boasts a 8-2 record with an Earned Run Average of 1.79. The E. R.A. would presumably lower had Ohtani not be fighting a blister.
The offensive statistics are impressive as well. After a slow start, the marquee player is hitting for a .290 batting average with 20 home runs (He just recently hit career number 300). Ohtani also has six stolen bases to his credit. Although, his responsibilities on the mound and the limitations of the knee have decreased that number drastically.
Procedural Issues
As of now, Ohtani’s knee will not require surgery. Instead, the knee will be drained, and he will receive a shot, according to Jack Harris of The California Post. The issues with it date all the way back to 2019 when he played for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. The latest reoccurrence happened about a month ago when he left the game early as a precautionary measure.
For what it’s worth, he played in the next game. However, unless absolutely necessary, the Dodgers are known to take a big picture approach to the season as a whole. They are normally very cautious in terms of their players health. They are intent on preserving Ohtani as much as they can for the stretch run of the season and beyond.
The “interventions” on Shohei Ohtani’s knee do not include anything surgical, per source
He’ll be getting it drained and will likely receive an injection https://t.co/6FiEFpcOau
— Jack Harris (@ByJackHarris) July 10, 2026
An End Note….
Right-handed reliever Kyle Hurt will serve as the opener for tonight’s game. Furthermore, Ivan Herrera of the St. Louis Cardinals will replace Ohtani on the National League’s roster.
Main Photo: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images
