Ohtani not – Shohei Ohtani was left out of the Dodgers’ lineup for the series opener against the Baltimore Orioles after the team indicated he was expected back this weekend and was not placed on MLB’s paternity list. The timing raised questions as the lineup was posted le
The Dodgers posted their lineup for the series opener against the Baltimore Orioles less than an hour before game time, and Shohei Ohtani wasn’t in it.
Ryan Ward was listed as the designated hitter and batted seventh. It was the kind of detail that doesn’t usually draw this much attention—until it involves a two-way superstar who has been central to everything the Dodgers do.
The team said on X that Ohtani is expected to return this weekend. That expectation mattered because it also meant he was not placed on MLB’s paternity list.
Asked about the delayed lineup three hours before first pitch, manager Dave Roberts said he was working out “some things with some position players” and didn’t mention Ohtani.
Roberts was then questioned about Ohtani’s sore left knee. He said he had not spoken to Ohtani on Friday and offered a quiet, cautious assumption instead: “Just assuming that after the off day he’s in a good spot,” Roberts said.
Dodgers managers often bring up pregnancy-related situations, and Roberts typically notes when a player is expecting a baby. In those cases, the team usually announces that the player has been placed on paternity leave.
Ohtani turns 32 on July 5. With his wife, Mamiko Tanaka, he became first-time parents in April 2025 when their daughter was born. Ohtani first shared that they were expecting in December 2024.
Tanaka’s name hasn’t often been part of the public spotlight, and Ohtani—known for keeping his private life tightly guarded—has never publicly revealed her name and has avoided showing her face in the rare family photos he posts on social media.
For now, the only certainty is the immediate one: for this opener, Ohtani is away from the lineup as the Dodgers prepare for a weekend return that the club has already signaled—just without the usual MLB paternity list announcement that typically comes with such moments.
Shohei Ohtani Los Angeles Dodgers Baltimore Orioles Dave Roberts Ryan Ward MLB paternity list left knee Mamiko Tanaka