Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts announced on July 10, 2026 that Shohei Ohtani would skip his scheduled pitching start due to a knee issue that requires draining.
Roberts said the knee draining is scheduled for Sunday, which he expects will provide sufficient recovery time. "He's supposed to get the, you know, the draining Sunday, so that gives us four days. So, yeah, I would assume Friday he'll be ready to go," Roberts said during the press conference. Roberts added that Ohtani will DH the next three games while the knee is treated.
Ohtani will not travel to Philadelphia for the All-Star Game, with Roberts citing concerns about the effects of flying and altitude on the swelling. "He's not going to go to Philadelphia. Correct. Just the flying, the altitude, the swelling with what comes with altitude and flying," Roberts noted. Roberts also confirmed that Ohtani's arm remains healthy and that he will be ready to pitch in the second half of the 2026 season, though the team has not yet determined which day he will slot into the rotation, as the Dodgers currently carry six pitchers.
Roberts acknowledged that Ohtani's knee has continued to swell slightly and that the team has curtailed his base-stealing as a result, though his batting has not been visibly affected. Roberts also acknowledged that Ohtani's recent outings on the mound have been below his standard, stating, "the last four or five haven't been crisp from him," and expressed hope that rest and reduced inflammation would improve his performance. Ohtani had made a mechanical adjustment to his front foot landing to address the knee issue, though Roberts indicated the last several starts had still not been at his best.
Roberts stated that the treatment plan was brought to Ohtani by the organization and that Ohtani accepted it without visible frustration. When asked whether being healthy for October outweighs considerations, Roberts was direct: "Nothing is going to come in front of being healthy for October." Yoshinobu Yamamoto is scheduled to start for the Dodgers the following day, with tonight's game to be handled entirely by relievers. Roberts also mentioned that a previously similar situation arose when Blake Snell missed a start for the Dodgers.
With the 2026 rotation carrying six pitchers, Roberts stated the team has not yet determined which specific day Ohtani will re-enter the rotation after the All-Star break, but expects him to be available by Friday following the break.