Ohtani Out Friday, Expected Back This Weekend as Dodgers Navigate Paternity Leave

Shohei Ohtani will not appear in the Dodgers' lineup Friday night against Baltimore, with the team citing paternity leave as the reason. Per the team's announcement, Ohtani is away from the team but is expected to return this weekend—a signal that he was not formally placed on MLB's paternity list and that his absence is a brief family matter rather than a multi-day absence. Manager Dave Roberts offered minimal detail in pregame, noting only that he had not spoken to Ohtani on Friday and was "assuming" the star would be in good shape after the team's recent off day.

Ohtani and his wife, Mamiko Tanaka, already welcomed a daughter in April 2025—more than a year ago—so tonight's absence stems from a separate family need. The 31-year-old has maintained strict privacy around his personal life, rarely sharing family details publicly and carefully limiting any imagery of his family on social media. This discretion extends to his team interactions; Roberts' comments suggest Ohtani communicated the need directly rather than through the formal league protocols.

From a roster perspective, the timing is manageable for Los Angeles. Ryan Ward slides into the designated hitter slot, batting seventh, a depth move that does not materially alter the Dodgers' offensive profile for a single night. Baltimore presents a mid-tier pitching matchup in what shapes as a standard series opener, not a deadline-defining clash that hinges on Ohtani's presence. The Orioles' rotation does not lean heavily on any specific arm that would make Ohtani's availability a swing factor.

For bettors, the practical impact centers on Dodgers team total and spread pricing. Ohtani's absence reduces offensive firepower, but his expected return by Saturday means any line adjustment tonight is noise rather than signal. Books will price the removal of his at-bats and power output into Friday's totals; if you are targeting the Dodgers' weekend performance, tonight's absence is a one-game blip with no multiplier effect on future games. The weekend slate—when Ohtani is expected to return—is where his presence or absence matters for sustained offensive volume.

Any move on Friday's Dodgers team total or moneyline should account for the absence directly (smaller sample, one fewer elite bat) but should not overcorrect. One-game absences driven by personal matters rarely shift team offensive profiles by more than a run or two in implied run value. Wait for his return before reassessing the Dodgers' offensive ceiling for the series.