Shohei Ohtani. Image via: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn ImagesShohei Ohtani will have his left knee drained Sunday, a procedure that will keep the Los Angeles Dodgers superstar out of next week's All-Star Game in Philadelphia. The team announced Friday that continued irritation in the knee will sideline him from pitching for the rest of the series against the Arizona Diamondbacks, though he'll stay in the lineup as designated hitter.The setback caps a difficult stretch for Ohtani's pitching workload, even as his bat has remained one of the most dangerous in baseball. Manager Dave Roberts said the plan is precautionary, aimed at getting Ohtani right before a stretch run built around Los Angeles chasing a third straight World Series title.Latest injury update on Shohei OhtaniLos Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani's elbow guard comes off while swinging during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Friday, July 10, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/William Liang)Ohtani skipped his scheduled Friday start against Arizona, with the Dodgers opting for a bullpen game instead. He still led off the game with a 381-foot homer, underscoring that the knee affects his pitching mechanics far more than his swing. He'll have fluid drained from the knee after Sunday's series finale, followed by a cortisone shot, and said his intention is to use the off days to make sure he's in a good place to be in the rotation.Roberts said the Dodgers don't expect the procedure to affect Ohtani's second-half availability as a pitcher, though the team hasn't decided where he'll slot into the six-man rotation once play resumes. The knee has bothered Ohtani since at least June 11, when a start against Pittsburgh was cut short.Why the Dodgers are being cautious nowThe knee is the same one Ohtani had surgically repaired for a congenital condition called bipartite patella back in September 2019. Roberts framed the decision as staying ahead of a problem rather than reacting to a crisis, telling reporters the team wanted to be proactive about managing it before the All-Star break arrives. He added that games in October carry more weight than an early-July start, and that Ohtani himself signed off on sitting once the medical staff made their case.The four-time MVP's production at the plate hasn't wavered. But his effectiveness on the mound has slipped over his last four outings.Ohtani's two-way workload and what's nextCategory2026 Season StatBatting average0.290Home runs21RBIs57Pitching record8–2ERA1.79Strikeouts95Innings pitched85.2Ohtani turned 32 this week and hit his 300th career home run Tuesday against Colorado, making him the first Japanese-born player in MLB history to reach that mark. The Dodgers, at 61-34, own the best record in baseball and are chasing the majors' first three-peat since the 1998-2000 Yankees. Los Angeles opens a road trip against the Yankees next Friday, and Roberts said he expects Ohtani back in the lineup by then. Whether he returns to the mound on schedule or the knee dictates a more cautious path into October will shape how the Dodgers build their rotation for a title defense.