Shohei Ohtani
Breakdown
Performance
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July 10, 2026
Scratched due to knee irritation
Ohtani has been scratched from Friday's start against the Diamondbacks due to continued irritation in his left knee.
Analysis
Ohtani will serve as the Dodgers' designated hitter Friday and for the rest of the weekend, but he will not pitch because of a nagging knee issue that first popped up a month ago. According to Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic, Ohtani will have the knee drained and will likely receive an injection over the All-Star break, which will prevent him from participating in the All-Star Game. Kyle Hurt will start what will be a bullpen game for the Dodgers in Friday's series opener versus the Diamondbacks.
July 8, 2026
Reaches 20-homer mark
Ohtani went 1-for-4 with a solo home run and a walk in Tuesday's 4-3 loss to the Rockies.
Analysis
Ohtani's solo shot led off the bottom of the first inning. He has homered in consecutive contests and now has 20 long balls on the year. The superstar is batting .294 with a .950 OPS, 56 RBI, 62 runs scored, six stolen bases, 15 doubles and two triples over 88 contests. Ohtani has hit at least 34 homers in five straight seasons, but his power pace this year means he's facing an uphill climb if he's to get back to the 50-homer power he displayed in his first two years as a Dodger.
July 7, 2026
Set to make last start before break
Ohtani is expected to make his regularly scheduled start on the mound Friday against Arizona, Maddie Lee of the Los Angeles Times reports.
Analysis
Ohtani was dealing with a right biceps injury last week, but the 32-year-old appears to have moved past the issue, easing concerns about his availability for his next turn in the rotation. Manager Dave Roberts feels strongly about Ohtani's chances to go Friday, stating that "as we sit here, I don't see that changing." The right-handed pitcher has posted a slightly inflated 4.38 ERA and 1.34 WHIP with 28 strikeouts over 24.2 innings in his last four starts.
July 7, 2026
Knocks in four runs Monday
Ohtani went 3-for-4 with a two-run home run, a walk and four total RBI in an 8-7 extra-innings win against the Rockies on Monday.
Analysis
Ohtani kicked off the scoring for Los Angeles with a two-run blast in the third inning. He added a two-run single in the fourth to log his first game with four-plus RBI since May 16. Ohtani tied his season high with three hits, a mark he's reached seven times so far this season. He's not putting up the jaw-dropping numbers at the plate that he did in his first two campaigns with Los Angeles, but Ohtani has still been one of the league's best hitters, posting a .944 OPS (third best in MLB) along with 19 home runs, 55 RBI, 61 runs and six stolen bases through 87 contests.
July 5, 2026
Good to go Sunday
Ohtani (biceps) is batting leadoff as the designated hitter Sunday against the Padres, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports.
Analysis
Ohtani was held out of Saturday's starting nine after exiting Friday's contest due to biceps discomfort, but he's back in action for Sunday's series finale, which happens to be his 32nd birthday. The two-way superstar is off to a slow start at the plate in July, going 1-for-12 with a walk and three strikeouts through three games. It remains to be seen if the biceps issue will affect Ohtani's availability for his next turn through the rotation, which currently lines up for next weekend versus Arizona.
July 4, 2026
Could be in lineup Sunday
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Saturday that Ohtani (bicep) is feeling "considerably better" and could be back in the lineup Sunday, and Roberts didn't rule Ohtani out of being available off the bench Saturday, Jack Harris of the California Post reports.
Analysis
Ohtani isn't in the lineup Saturday after reporting some discomfort in his right bicep Friday. However, there hasn't been any indication that the injury is serious, and Roberts' words Saturday further suggest that it's just a minor issue. Andy Pages is getting a turn at DH with Ohtani sidelined Saturday.
July 4, 2026
Out of lineup Saturday, as expected
Ohtani (bicep) isn't in the lineup Saturday versus San Diego.
Analysis
Ohtani was removed from Friday's matchup after completing six frames as a pitcher and after taking an at-bat as the DH in the bottom of the sixth inning. The superstar slugger said he felt something in his right bicep but suggested that the issue is probably minor. Nonetheless, manager Dave Roberts indicated after Friday's contest that Ohtani wouldn't play Saturday as a precaution, and the two-way star is indeed out of the lineup. In his stead, Andy Pages is getting a day off his feet and serving as Los Angeles' DH. It remains to be seen if Ohtani will be back in the lineup Sunday.
July 4, 2026
Battling bicep issue
Ohtani was removed from Friday's game against the Padres due to a bicep injury, Jack Harris of the California Post reports.
Analysis
Ohtani said after the game that he became concerned about his bicep after his final at-bat in the sixth inning, but he noted that what he felt was similar to an injury he dealt with a couple of months ago that subsided relatively quickly. Although his injury is believed to be minor, manager Dave Roberts confirmed that Ohtani will not play Saturday as a precaution, per Harris. The two-way star gave up three earned runs on seven hits and two walks in six innings on the mound Friday and went 0-for-3 as a hitter.