Shohei Ohtani (knee) out of All-Star Game, Friday pitching start

Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani pulled out of the upcoming All-Star Game on Friday due to continued issues with his left knee.

The Dodgers said Ohtani will "have some interventions on his knee" next week to get him ready for the second half of the season and will miss Tuesday's Midsummer Classic in Philadelphia.

The knee has plagued Ohtani in recent weeks. He also has experienced right bicep soreness and a right hand blister.

"The knee flared up. Sometimes it calms down," Ohtani said Friday, through an interpreter. "It's just a lot of ups and downs, just kinda seeing how the knee really handled the last couple of weeks. Really, the decision was made to do the injection after seeing how the knee reacted over the last couple weeks."

Los Angeles also scratched Ohtani from his scheduled Friday start against the Arizona Diamondbacks. He will serve as the designated hitter for the three-game weekend series against Arizona, going 1-for-4 with his 21st homer of the season in Friday's series-opening 9-3 loss.

Ohtani, 32, is 8-2 with a 1.79 ERA in 14 starts this season. He is batting .290 with 21 homers and 57 RBIs in 86 games.

The four-time MVP was selected to the All-Star Game for the sixth straight season. He hit his 300th career homer earlier this week.

Ohtani played for the Los Angeles Angels from 2018-23 - winning American League MVP honors in 2021 and ‘23 - before leaving via free agency and signing with the Dodgers. He was National League MVP the past two seasons.

With Ohtani not available on the mound, the Dodgers started right-hander Kyle Hurt (3-1, 4.88 ERA) in a bullpen game. The 28-year-old has made 31 relief appearances this season but this was just his second career start, his first since April 16, 2024. He allowed two runs on three hits in 1 2/3 innings.

--Field Level Media

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This story was originally published July 10, 2026 at 5:23 PM.