What happened: Shohei Ohtani's next start has been pushed back from today to Friday, which takes him out of the mix as a pitcher for the All-Star Game. His scheduled final first-half start would land next weekend, and pitching in the Midsummer Classic would require him to go on short rest.
Why it matters: Ohtani starting on the mound would have been a signature draw for the exhibition, and the revised schedule closes that door for now. He still profiles as a lock to appear as a hitter, so the change narrows how he factors in rather than whether he participates. Some fans argue the pitching spotlight should shift to rising arms like Jacob Misiorowski.
By the numbers: Ohtani has stayed hot at the plate, recently crushing a 432-foot home run measured at 112.3 mph off the bat.
What to watch: Watch whether he is named as a hitter for the All-Star roster and how the Friday start reshapes the rotation into the break.