Sep 2, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers two-way player Shohei Ohtani (17) jogs in from the outfield before the game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images Sep 2, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers two-way player Shohei Ohtani (17) jogs in from the outfield before the game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

Dodgers Change Shohei Ohtani’s Pitching Start Due To Illnes

Originally posted on Dodger Blue | By Matthew Moreno | Last updated Sep 3, 2025 4:39 PM ET

The Los Angeles Dodgers went into the start of their road trip with Clayton Kershaw, Shohei Ohtani and Blake Snell lined up to start during the three-game series against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

It figured to represent an opportunity for the team to generate some momentum behind a starting rotation that’s emerged as a strength. But Kershaw labored in the first inning on Tuesday night and the Dodgers bullpen failed to keep the Pirates off the board late in the game.

Then when the lineup was revealed for Wednesday, it had Emmet Sheehan as the new pitching probable, though Ohtani still starting as the Dodgers’ designated hitter.

According to Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts explained Ohtani was scratched from his pitching start at PNC Park due to being under the weather:

Shohei Ohtani was “under the weather” yesterday, Dave Roberts said. Obviously can still hit but didn’t feel great throwing his side session because of the illness.

Ohtani will pitch “sometime this weekend.”

— Fabian Ardaya (@FabianArdaya) September 3, 2025

Wednesday was going to be Ohtani’s 12th start of the season as a Dodgers pitcher. He completed five innings last week for the first time this year and also set a season high with nine strikeouts against the Cincinnati Reds.

“The fact that I was able to reach five innings was really key in terms of moving forward,” Ohtani said through interpreter Will Ireton. “I think moving forward, it’s going to be a collaboration between the doctors, front office and Dave Roberts in terms of how we want to proceed if I’m going to throw more than five.”

Roberts had previously maintained the Dodgers would not extend Ohtani beyond five innings this season, but appeared to soften on that stance a bit last week.

Despite Ohtani seemingly being under the weather at the start of the Dodgers’ road trip, he made franchise history in the series opener against the Pirates as the organization’s fastest player to 100 home runs.