Arizona Diamondbacks
· 2026-07-14
The Arizona Diamondbacks will face the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday night without Shohei Ohtani in the lineup after the two-way star was scratched due to left knee irritation. Ohtani, who was set to start as the Dodgers' designated hitter, will instead focus on recovery, including a knee drainage procedure and potential injection, per reports. The Diamondbacks enter the series riding a four-game win streak, including a 5-3 victory over the Dodgers on July 12, but remain 9th in the National League with a 49-47 record.
Ohtani was initially named the NL's All-Star Game designated hitter but will now miss the Midsummer Classic due to his knee issue. While the injury isn't considered serious—he'll still serve as the Dodgers' DH this weekend—it's enough to keep him out of the exhibition game. The Diamondbacks, meanwhile, will start left-hander Eduardo Rodríguez (7-3, 2.25 ERA) in Friday's opener, facing a Dodgers bullpen game after Ohtani's late scratch.
With the Diamondbacks just 5.5 games back of the final NL Wild Card spot, every game against division rivals like the Dodgers is critical. Los Angeles leads the NL West by 14.5 games, but Arizona's recent momentum—including a 5-3 win over the Dodgers on July 12—shows they can compete. Ohtani's absence removes a major offensive threat, but the Diamondbacks will still need to contend with a deep Dodgers lineup and a bullpen game that could feature multiple high-octane relievers.
After Friday's matchup, the Diamondbacks will look to build on their four-game win streak against a Dodgers team that has dominated the NL West. With Ohtani sidelined, Arizona's pitching staff—led by Rodríguez—will have a clearer path to success, though the Dodgers' lineup remains dangerous even without their star. The series could be a turning point for the Diamondbacks as they push for a Wild Card spot, with every win against top-tier competition boosting their playoff hopes.