Shohei Ohtani scratched from Dodgers start and misses All-Star Game

Shohei Ohtani has been scratched from his scheduled pitching start on Friday and will miss the All-Star Game due to ongoing irritation in his left knee.

The Los Angeles Dodgers made the announcement just six hours before the Japanese superstar was due to take the mound.

He will continue to serve as the designated hitter during the upcoming weekend series against division rivals the Arizona Diamondbacks.

However, the two-way phenomenon will remain in California during the midsummer break to address the persistent physical issue.

Interventions planned for second half

The franchise confirmed the 32-year-old requires medical attention to ensure his fitness for the remainder of the campaign.

“Ohtani will instead have some interventions on his knee to put him in the best position for the second half of the season.”

In his absence from the starting rotation, Los Angeles will rely entirely on a bullpen game to navigate Friday’s fixture.

Managing a persistent problem

The highly decorated athlete initially aggravated the joint during an abbreviated outing against the Pittsburgh Pirates on 11 June.

That specific knee previously required surgical repair in September 2019 to correct a congenital condition known as bipartite patella.

While recent secondary ailments including a hand blister and right bicep tightness have subsided, the knee discomfort has required constant management.

Before this setback, the generational talent had amassed an 8-2 record alongside a stellar 1.79 ERA across 14 pitching starts.

His offensive production remains equally formidable, boasting 20 home runs and a .290 batting average as the regular season approaches its midway point.