Shohei Ohtani's chances of pitching in the All-Star Game on July 14 dimmed after the Los Angeles Dodgers moved his start from Wednesday to Friday to preserve his arm. Manager Dave Roberts acknowledged the math makes it difficult, though the final call remains pending. Ohtani is locked in as the designated hitter after winning fan voting with 3,341,257 votes, and could still join the NL pitching staff. Cristopher Sanchez appears the leading candidate to start in Philadelphia's favor.

The National League's staff picture grows clearer with Milwaukee's Jacob Misiorowski leading the majors in ERA at 1.45 but unavailable due to his rotation spot. Ohtani's 1.58 ERA entering Friday's start against San Diego makes him a strong bullpen option, yet his recent three starts in 13 games raise concerns about fatigue. The Dodgers' aggressive scheduling aims to prevent overuse during a grueling stretch.

Ohtani's performance has dipped slightly, with Roberts openly noting declining fastball command and a less effective sweeper. The right-hander also battles left knee soreness and a blister on the middle finger that could complicate his availability. Roberts emphasized Ohtani's body feels good, but the timeline leaves little margin for error before the Midsummer Showcase.

The decision hinges on balancing Ohtani's health against team needs, with Roberts facing a classic workload dilemma. Philadelphia's Sanchez remains the safest bet to start at home, leaving Ohtani's role uncertain as the July 10 start against Arizona approaches.