Roberts: 'Hard to imagine' Ohtani will pitch in ASG given timing of starts

LOS ANGELES -- Shohei Ohtani is already penciled in as the National League's starting designated hitter for the upcoming All-Star Game, but it's looking unlikely that he will be available to pitch in the Midsummer Classic.

As one of the top starters in the NL this season, Ohtani has a strong chance of being selected to the All-Star roster as a pitcher in addition to as a DH, as he was from 2021-23 with the Angels. But given that Ohtani's final start of the first half is lined up for next Friday against the D-backs, manager Dave Roberts does not expect him to pitch in the All-Star Game on July 14 in Philadelphia.

"I haven't formally said it, but if you just kind of do the math it would be hard to imagine," said Roberts, who will manage the NL All-Stars. "But I don't have to make that decision quite yet."

The logistics of Ohtani pitching in the All-Star Game were already complicated, as Roberts was under the impression that Ohtani would have to be the starting pitcher in order to also be in the starting lineup as the DH.

While Ohtani (8-2, 1.58 ERA entering his start against the Padres on Friday) has been one of the best pitchers in the NL, others such as the Phillies' Cristopher Sánchez (10-3, 2.00 ERA) and the Brewers' Jacob Misiorowski (9-4, 1.47 ERA) are also deserving of the starting nod. (Misiorowski, like Ohtani, is likely ruled out to start because of his schedule.)

Ohtani had initially been scheduled to start on Wednesday in West Sacramento, but the Dodgers pushed him back two days in order to get him some extra rest. Given how the team has been proactive about managing his workload in what could be the longest two-way season of his career -- if L.A. can make another deep postseason run -- Ohtani not pitching in the All-Star Game was likely the preferred outcome for the Dodgers.

It may only be a one-way show for Ohtani in Philadelphia, but that's pretty special, too.