Shohei Ohtani scratched from Friday start, will miss All-Star Game with knee pain

Key Points:

• Shohei Ohtani has been scratched from his Friday start for the Los Angeles Dodgers and will not participate in the All-Star Game due to ongoing irritation in his left knee, with treatments planned to prepare him for the second half of the season.
• Ohtani will have his knee drained and likely receive an injection, and will serve as the Dodgers’ designated hitter over the weekend, though his availability for the season's second half opener remains uncertain.
• This marks Ohtani’s first missed pitching start this year; he has been managing knee pain since mid-June and has also dealt with a right biceps soreness and a recurring blister on his right middle finger.
• Kyle Hurt will start Friday’s game in a bullpen game for the Dodgers, while Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Emmet Sheehan are scheduled to start Saturday and Sunday, respectively.
• Other Dodgers All-Stars—Freddie Freeman, Max Muncy, Andy Pages, and Yamamoto—are expected to attend the All-Star festivities, though Yamamoto is unlikely to pitch in the game due to his scheduled start the day after.