Shohei Ohtani has been scratched from his scheduled pitching start for the Los Angeles Dodgers due to continued irritation in his left knee. The team announced the decision just hours before Friday's game against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Ohtani will still play as the designated hitter this weekend but will not participate in the upcoming All-Star Game.

The Dodgers stated Ohtani will undergo "interventions" on his knee to prepare him for the second half of the season. This is not the first time Ohtani has experienced issues with this knee, which previously required surgery in 2019. He had previously left a game in June with similar knee irritation.

Despite these ailments, Ohtani has delivered a strong performance this season, batting .290 with 20 home runs and six stolen bases. As a pitcher, he holds an 8-2 record with a 1.79 ERA over 14 starts. The Dodgers will utilize a bullpen game in his absence on Friday.