Shohei Ohtani is already locked in as the National League’s leading vote-getter for the 2026 MLB All-Star Game, but the Dodgers star looks unlikely to add another two-way wrinkle to the night.
Ohtani is set to be the starting designated hitter, and while his pitching remains the part of his game that turns the whole sport sideways, the calendar is working against him. USA Today’s Bob Nightengale noted that Ohtani’s start has been pushed back to Friday, July 3, which puts his next scheduled outing the following weekend. That timing would leave him needing to pitch on short rest if he were to take the mound in the All-Star Game.
"Shohei Ohtani, with his start now being pushed back from today until Friday, no longer is a viable candidate to pitch in the All-Star Game," Nightengale shared. "He's scheduled to make his last first-half start next weekend, which would require him to pitch on short rest in the All-Star Game."
That makes the picture pretty clear for now. Ohtani could still technically pitch in the game, but the likelihood has dropped sharply with this shift in his schedule.
It also fits with the Dodgers’ approach to his workload. The club has worked to keep his innings in check, aiming to keep him fresh for a postseason push, and asking him to work on short rest in an exhibition setting doesn’t seem like the kind of move they’d want to make.
There had been some room for debate about who should start on the mound, with Jacob Misiorowski in the mix and Philadelphia hometown options Cristopher Sanchez and Zack Wheeler also making cases. But with Ohtani’s start pushed back, those conversations may end up being moot.
For now, the odds of seeing Ohtani pitch in the 2026 All-Star Game look very slim. The chance is still there, but it doesn’t appear likely.
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