Shohei Ohtani scratched late by Dodgers for Orioles game, team says it is for paternity leave

Los Angeles learned late that Shohei Ohtani would not take the field for Friday’s game against the Baltimore Orioles. According to Yahoo Sports, the Dodgers made an unexpected late scratch after Ohtani left the team’s active plans before first pitch.

The timing matters in MLB because late scratches can force managers to reshape a starting lineup and adjust who plays which defensive spots, often on a short clock. Even when the issue is not medical, the ripple effect can reach the batting order, the infield/outfield mix, and the way the roster is used for the rest of the game.

Yahoo Sports reported that there was no reason to worry about an injury, and that Ohtani’s absence was tied to paternity leave. That distinction is important, since fans and the media often treat sudden late removals as potential injury indicators, especially for a player whose availability can carry major roster and lineup impact.

Because the report frames the move as non-injury related, the immediate focus shifts from player health to logistics. MLB clubs typically keep an internal playbook for these moments, but Ohtani’s unique two-way role makes any absence feel outsized, even if it is temporary.

For Baltimore, the Orioles’ pitching matchup and game plan for the night would have been built with Ohtani in mind. Removing a hitter of his caliber after lineup cards are already on the way through the clubhouse can change the order of at-bats, leverage matchups in the later innings, and how long certain relief arms are available to face the heart of the order.

For Los Angeles, the central baseball question becomes how the Dodgers cover the production and opportunities Ohtani normally creates. Even without concrete details beyond the reason for the scratch, losing him for a game can alter lineup protection, force other hitters up or down in the order, and change the defensive assignments needed to cover the innings.

Looking ahead, the next test is whether Ohtani returns to the team promptly for the following game, and whether the Dodgers need to maintain any precautionary roster flexibility tied to his availability. In the meantime, the club’s handling of the situation and how it manages in-game lineup adjustments will be the immediate storyline for Dodgers fans and the Orioles scouting staff.