Dodgers Make Shohei Ohtani Pitching Decision for Yankees Series Amid Knee Issue

The Los Angeles Dodgers have made a decision on the starting rotation for the series against the New York Yankees.

The Dodgers are squaring off against the Yankees following the All-Star break, giving fans a taste of high level of baseball action right immediately.

This series will be the first time that the Dodgers return to Yankee Stadium since the 2024 World Series.

Naturally, with such a high-profile series, all eyes will be on the status of Shohei Ohtani, who is not totally healthy.

Jul 5, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (17) reacts after striking out in the first inning against the San Diego Padres at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images

Even after completing treatment and getting over two weeks of rest, the Dodgers have decided not to have him pitch against the New York Yankees.

Ohtani looks to be all good as a hitter, ending off the pre-All-Star season on a strong note with multiple leadoff home runs.

Full details on Shohei Ohtani’s knee injury

However, it is his pitching that looks worrying, as he failed to make his last scheduled start on Friday due to lingering left knee soreness, which is triggered after a pitching start.

Ohtani lands on his left knee over 100 times when making a pitching start, and while he only makes one start a week, he also ends up throwing multiple bullpen sessions.

Rather than push him, they elected to have him only during the closing series before the break, and he also chose to avoid playing in the All-Star game, instead having the knee drained and resting.

Jul 6, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (17) runs after hitting a two run home run against the Colorado Rockies in the third inning at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

“He’s been managing this quite well, the knee,” Roberts said before the break. “So if there’s a chance that we could kind of be proactive and get it drained and do whatever we need to do to try to manage it, along with the rest for the All-Star break, we were gonna do that.

“So to not put any more stress on it tonight, throwing 100 pitches, our pitching is in a good spot coming off an off day, we’ve got four days to the break. So everything lined up, which makes sense for all of us.”

While Ohtani may be feeling better, the Dodgers want to continue managing the knee, and now, his next start will likely come during LA’s upcoming series against the Philadelphia Phillies from Monday to Wednesday.

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