Ohtani's Start Shifted
Dodgers Move Shohei Ohtani's Next Start to Friday Against Padres Amid Workload Management
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Key Points
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Through 13 starts this season, Shohei Ohtani has posted 86 strikeouts against 24 walks, underscoring his continued dominance even while managing a knee issue.
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Ohtani has driven in 50 runs this season as the Dodgers' designated hitter, contributing heavily on offense in addition to his pitching.
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The Dodgers will give Ohtani a season-high eight days of rest between appearances, timing his Friday start against the Padres after a long stretch with no off-days.
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In three career starts vs. the Padres, Ohtani has allowed six earned runs in 11 innings, with his last start against San Diego being five scoreless innings in a win.
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The Dodgers shuffled their bullpen by recalling Wyatt Mills and designating Jonathan Hernández, a move that also clears a 40-man roster spot for Evan Phillips' impending activation from the 60-day IL.
The Los Angeles Dodgers have pushed Shohei Ohtani's next start back to Friday, July 3, against the San Diego Padres — skipping a Wednesday slot against the Oakland Athletics entirely. Sports Illustrated reported that Wednesday will instead be a bullpen game, giving Ohtani a season-high eight days of rest between appearances.
Manager Dave Roberts said the knee soreness Ohtani suffered in June is still a factor. "I don't think he's 100 percent with his knee," Roberts told LA Times. "But as far as his swing mechanics... he's on balance. He's 100 percent in the box." Ohtani enters the weekend with an 8-2 record, a 1.58 ERA, and 86 strikeouts in 79.2 innings this season.
Knee Soreness and Eight Days of Rest Drive Decision
Ohtani first hurt his left knee on June 11 during a game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, according to Dodger Blue. He kept pitching, but the Dodgers have been careful ever since. The team is now in a 13-game stretch with no off-days — the longest of the season — making rest planning critical.
By timing Friday's start against San Diego, the club gives Ohtani maximum recovery time without skipping a turn entirely. RotoBaller noted it also lets him pitch at Dodger Stadium rather than Sacramento's Sutter Health Park, a smaller, hitter-friendly venue where the Athletics are currently based.
Sasaki Starts Thursday as Dodgers Stack the Padres Series
With Ohtani sliding to Friday, Roki Sasaki is lined up to start Thursday's series opener against San Diego, per Sports Illustrated. The move effectively turns a three-game home series into a showcase — sending two Japanese aces against a division rival in back-to-back nights.
The Padres recently swept the Atlanta Braves, giving them momentum. Lining up Sasaki and Ohtani signals the Dodgers are treating this series seriously despite holding an 11-game lead in the NL West. Sasaki has struggled lately, posting a 5.00+ ERA in June and allowing 13 runs in his last 12 innings, according to LADodgersMuse.
Bullpen Shuffle Clears the Way for Evan Phillips' Return
To handle Wednesday's bullpen game, the Dodgers recalled sidewinder Wyatt Mills from Triple-A Oklahoma City and designated Jonathan Hernández for assignment. Hernández had a brutal 8.15 ERA over 12 appearances. Mills posted a 2.64 ERA at Triple-A, per MLB Trade Rumors.
The move also clears a spot on the 40-man roster. MLB.com reported that reliever Evan Phillips — recovering from 2025 Tommy John surgery on a 1-year, $6.5 million deal — is nearing activation from the 60-day injured list and is expected back during this homestand.
Ohtani's Cy Young Bid Faces a Ticking Clock
Ohtani's 1.58 ERA ranks second in the NL, trailing only Milwaukee's Jacob Misiorowski at 1.46, according to Athlon Sports. But Ohtani is just six innings short of the 162-inning threshold needed to qualify for the Cy Young Award. Every skipped start chips away at his chances.
On offense, Ohtani leads the Dodgers with 18 home runs, 50 RBI, and a .958 OPS as the designated hitter. He was also voted the NL's starting DH for the 2026 All-Star Game with over 3.3 million fan votes, per KNBR. The Dodgers sit at 55-30, comfortably first in the division — but the team is clearly playing the long game with their star.
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