Ohtani Likely Skips 2026 All-Star Pitching Duty as 3 Days' Rest and Knee Issue Loom
Updated
Updated · Yahoo Sports · Jul 4
Ohtani Likely Skips 2026 All-Star Pitching Duty as 3 Days' Rest and Knee Issue Loom
3 articles · Updated · Yahoo Sports · Jul 4
Summary
Friday's rotation change likely takes Shohei Ohtani off the mound for the July 14 All-Star Game, with Dodgers manager Dave Roberts expected to prioritize rest while still using him as the NL's designated hitter.
Three days of rest would separate Ohtani's projected July 10 start against Arizona from the All-Star Game, and Roberts said the Dodgers want to use any chance to give him extra recovery amid left knee inflammation.
Ohtani has been dominant in 13 starts, carrying a 1.58 ERA, an 8-2 record and 86 strikeouts over 79 2/3 innings, though he remains short of the 88 innings needed to qualify for league leaderboards.
Philadelphia will still feature Ohtani prominently: he led Phase 1 fan voting to lock up an All-Star spot, and he enters the break hitting .291/.406/.529 with 18 homers and a National League-leading .406 OBP.