MLB: Shohei Ohtani welcomes second child, returns to starting lineup; Yamamoto faces Orioles

Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani is back in the starting lineup as the designated hitter on June 21, 2026, just one day after taking a personal leave to welcome his second child with wife Mami Tanaka. Ohtani confirmed the arrival of his new baby by posting a photo of the infant's feet on social media.

Manager Dave Roberts had expressed hope for Ohtani's immediate return, and the Japanese phenom obliged, slotting back into the leadoff spot for the game. Ohtani's return provides a significant boost to the Dodgers' offense as they continue their season.

Meanwhile, fellow Japanese pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto is set to take the mound against the Baltimore Orioles. Yamamoto is looking to bounce back from a string of near no-hitters that ended in heartbreak. In his previous starts against the Orioles and the Chicago White Sox, he carried no-hit bids deep into the ninth inning, only to surrender a hit in the final frame. This unusual statistical occurrence has made him the only pitcher in history to lose two such bids in the ninth inning in consecutive starts.

Yamamoto's upcoming start against the Orioles presents another opportunity for him to achieve a no-hitter and etch his name further in baseball history, hopefully avoiding the ninth-inning disappointment he has recently experienced.

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hope Ohtani could play today