Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani has been scratched from his scheduled start against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday due to continued irritation in his left knee, the team announced. He will also miss the MLB All-Star Game in Philadelphia. Ohtani will serve as the designated hitter for the remainder of the weekend series against the Diamondbacks.
The Dodgers stated that Ohtani will undergo "some interventions" on his knee during the All-Star Break to prepare for the second half of the season. The team did not specify the nature of these interventions. Ohtani has been dealing with knee irritation for roughly a month, which has been aggravated by pitching.
Ohtani, a four-time MVP, entered Friday with a .939 OPS (third-best among qualified NL hitters) and a 1.79 ERA (second-best among NL pitchers with at least 50 innings pitched). He exited a game on June 11 against the Pirates with inflammation in his left knee but has played through the issue since. This is the first time this season he has missed a pitching start due to the injury.
Ohtani previously suggested that issues with his pitching mechanics may be to blame for the injury. He did not confirm whether his 2019 surgery for a bipartite patella in his left knee is connected to the current issue.
The Dodgers will manage Ohtani's workload carefully to ensure his availability for the remainder of the season. His absence from the All-Star Game marks the first time in five seasons he will not participate in the Midsummer Classic.