Ohtani's All-Star pitching appearance unlikely after schedule change

Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani's planned pitching start against the Oakland Athletics has been postponed, with his next appearance on the mound now set for July 4 at home against the San Diego Padres. This adjustment has led Japanese media to speculate that Ohtani's chances of pitching and hitting in the MLB All-Star Game are slim.

According to Nikkan Sports, if Ohtani pitches on July 4 and adheres to a six-day rest schedule, his subsequent start would be on July 11 against the Arizona Diamondbacks. This leaves only three days of rest before the All-Star Game, making a two-way appearance highly improbable.

Ohtani, a four-time MVP, was elected as the National League's starting designated hitter for the All-Star Game via fan vote, receiving a record 3,341,257 votes. This marks his sixth All-Star selection and his first time leading in fan balloting, making him the second Japanese player, after Ichiro Suzuki, to achieve this feat. His six All-Star DH selections also surpass David Ortiz's record.

Should Ohtani be selected as a pitcher by player vote or MLB's official recommendation, he could still make a two-way appearance in the All-Star Game for the first time since 2021. However, if he opts out of pitching in the All-Star Game and continues his regular pitching schedule, he is expected to start the second half of the season on July 18 against the New York Yankees. This would be his first time pitching at Yankee Stadium since leading the Dodgers to a championship in the 2024 World Series.