Ohtani Set to Face Yankees After Knee Procedure Sport By lines July 16, 2026 Shohei Ohtani will play in the Los Angeles Dodgers’ second-half opener at Yankee Stadium on Friday. The four-time MVP had fluid drained from his left knee after Sunday’s game. Ohtani stayed available as a designated hitter for the marquee series. Why Ohtani’s Knee Update Shapes the Dodgers’ Second Half Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Ohtani had the procedure to relieve knee irritation. The four-time MVP took a few vacation days before the second half began. Los Angeles opens a three-game set at Yankee Stadium on Friday, July 17. Roberts declined to commit Ohtani to a pitching start during the series. Ohtani will serve as the designated hitter at a minimum this weekend. The Dodgers begin the second half away from Dodger Stadium. Ohtani carries a .293 average with 22 home runs and 58 RBIs this season. On the mound, Ohtani sits at 8-2 with a 1.79 ERA across 14 starts. The two-way star has piled up 95 strikeouts over 85 and two-thirds innings. Ohtani ranks among the National League leaders in home runs. Ohtani’s next pitching turn projects for July 22 against the Philadelphia Phillies. Ohtani’s dual role makes every injury update a rotation and lineup question. The Dodgers manage his pitching workload to protect his elite bat. Los Angeles has leaned on Ohtani for 14 starts and near-daily at-bats. Any knee flare-up would ripple through both the rotation and the order. Roberts has balanced that workload all season with careful scheduling. The series carries an extra subplot in the Bronx this weekend. Cody Bellinger won the 2026 All-Star Game MVP award for the American League. The former Dodger now hits for the New York Yankees against his old club. Los Angeles and New York last met in the 2024 World Series. The Dodgers won that title in five games over the Yankees. Bellinger began his professional career with the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Dodgers own baseball’s best record, 1.5 games ahead of Milwaukee. A healthy Ohtani keeps Los Angeles atop the National League West. The New York Yankees enter the weekend chasing a steadier stretch. Ohtani’s bat reshapes the run expectancy for every Dodgers lineup. MLB set this Dodgers-Yankees series as Sunday Night Baseball on July 19. Milwaukee sits second in the majors at 59-34. Ohtani will test the treated knee against a loud Yankee Stadium crowd. Dave Roberts will set Ohtani’s next mound start after the three-game series. The Dodgers then face the Philadelphia Phillies in a midweek set. A clean series would ease any worry about Ohtani’s knee. Los Angeles will lean on Ohtani deep into the pennant race. Related Sports Coverage Ohtani Hits 300th Homer as Rockies Spoil Dodgers 2026 MLB All-Star Rosters: Ohtani, Judge Headline Yankees Set Franchise Strikeout Record in Rays Loss This report draws on ESPN, NBC Sports and Associated Press coverage of Ohtani’s status and the Dodgers-Yankees series.
