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Shohei Ohtani misses game, away from Dodgers awaiting birth of child

By Thomson Reuters Jun 20, 2026 | 1:31 AM

For the second Friday in a row, the Dodgers held Shohei Ohtani out of the lineup.

But it ​wasn’t knee inflammation sidelining him ‌this time.

Prior to their game against Baltimore in Los Angeles — a game the Dodgers won on a walk-off 6-5 — the Dodgers announced their ‌star ​is away from the ⁠team on paternity leave ⁠as he and his wife expect the birth of their second child.

However, the Dodgers announced Ohtani “is expected to be ​back at some point this weekend” and he was not placed on ⁠the paternity list. (Being placed ⁠on the paternity list requires ​a player to miss at least one ​game but no more than three ‌before being taken off the list.)

Ohtani was the starting pitcher in the Dodgers’ previous game, getting the win in a ⁠5-4 victory over Tampa Bay on Wednesday. He is not expected to be back on ⁠the mound ‌until the middle of next ⁠week.

Kyle Tucker took Ohtani’s usual ​leadoff ‌spot in the lineup while ​rookie Ryan ⁠Ward served as the designated hitter. Tucker went 1-for-4 with a run scored while Ward was 0-for-3 with a pair of walks and scored the winning run.

–Field ​Level Media