Overview
- The Dodgers announced Ohtani was away for paternity and he and his wife, Mamiko Tanaka, posted on Instagram that their second child had been born, with the team saying he is expected back this weekend.
- The club kept Ohtani off MLB’s formal paternity list and instead adjusted the active roster for Friday’s game, moving Kyle Tucker into the leadoff spot and giving rookie Ryan Ward the designated hitter role.
- Ohtani had started and won the team’s most recent game on Wednesday and is not expected to pitch again until about the middle of next week as the rotation is paced around his last start.
- Manager Dave Roberts also provided injury and rehab updates Friday noting catcher Will Smith’s activation is delayed while Teoscar Hernández, Edwin Díaz, Blake Snell and other pitchers continue staged progress toward returns.
- Ohtani’s brief absence comes during an elite two-way season for him and while the Dodgers lead the league, so short-term roster moves matter for the club’s push and the lead-up to the Aug. 3 trade deadline.