The Los Angeles Dodgers lineup for Friday’s game against the Baltimore Orioles was released more than two hours later than normal, and once it was unveiled, it did not include Shohei Ohtani as the designated hitter.
“I’m just working through some things with some position players,” manager Dave Roberts told reporters shortly after 4 p.m. PT. “So we’ll have it out shortly.”
Roberts added the delay was not due to any health-related issues with players. That was of note considering Ohtani is playing through left knee inflammation.
Shohei Ohtani welcoming second child
Shortly after the Dodgers lineup was made public, the team released a statement explaining Ohtani’s absence as being due to paternity leave and he would return at some point during the weekend. However, the two-way star has not technically been put on the paternity list, like he was in April 2025 when he and Mamiko welcomed the birth of their daughter.
Ohtani spent two days on the paternity list last season. Per MLB roster rules, a player who goes on the paternity list is required to miss at least one day but no more than three.
It’s plausible the Dodgers will look to put Ohtani on formal paternity leave Saturday, then potentially activate him before leaving for the start of their road trip on Monday. But for the time being they are playing the series opener against the Orioles one player short.
News of the Ohtani family welcoming a second baby came as a surprise to the general public. Granted, that’s par for the course with the notoriously private Japanese superstar. To this day, Ohtani and his wife have not revealed the name of their daughter.
As for matters on the field, Ohtani gets another night off his balky knee that Roberts noted needs to be managed moving forward. Despite the minor ailment and a blister on the middle finger of his right hand, Ohtani pitched six innings this past Wednesday.
Aside from being removed early last week, Ohtani has only missed one game because of the left knee trouble. His Cy Young Award hopes may have faded after allowing four runs to the Tampa Bay Rays, but Ohtani remains squarely in the hunt for another National League MVP.
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