Who Starts All-Star?
Dodgers Manager Dave Roberts Faces All-Star Pitcher Decision Between Yamamoto and Ohtani
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts faces an awkward choice: which of his own pitchers starts the 2026 MLB All-Star Game in Philadelphia. Roberts will announce his pick on July 13, just one day before the game at Citizens Bank Park. The decision pits Yoshinobu Yamamoto — the $325-million ace and 2025 World Series MVP — against Shohei Ohtani, who is pitching to a 0.74 ERA through his first 10 starts, the third-lowest in MLB history for that span, according to LA Times.
The stakes go beyond bragging rights. If Roberts does not start Ohtani on the mound, Ohtani cannot pitch one inning in relief and stay in the game as the designated hitter. That quirk of the rules forces Roberts into a binary choice — and puts one of baseball's biggest stars on the sideline for half the showcase.
Yamamoto's Near-Perfect Game Complicates Everything
Yoshinobu Yamamoto made Roberts's decision harder on June 13. He carried a perfect game into the eighth inning against the Chicago White Sox before finally yielding a hit. The performance came just one day before veteran reporter Bill Shaikin asked in LA Times whether Roberts would still pass over Yamamoto for the bigger name. Shaikin described Yamamoto as the "Dodgers' best pitcher" in terms of raw consistency.
Yamamoto's contract alone signals his standing. At $325 million, he is the highest-paid pitcher in baseball history not named Ohtani. He also won the World Series MVP award in 2025. By any traditional measure, the All-Star start is his to lose.
The Ohtani Rule Forces Roberts Into a Corner
MLB adjusted its rules in 2021 to let a player start as both pitcher and DH. Ohtani used that rule to become the first player ever to start an All-Star Game in both roles that same year. But the rule has a catch. If Ohtani does not start on the mound, he cannot pitch later and stay in the game at DH. Roberts either starts Ohtani pitching, or Ohtani sits on the bench for half the game.
Ohtani did not pitch in either the 2024 or 2025 All-Star Games while recovering from a second major elbow surgery. His return to the mound in 2026 is a global television event, especially in Japan. CBS Sports confirmed Roberts as NL manager for the second straight year, meaning he must publicly choose between two of his own players.
A Brewers Rookie and a Philly Ace Add More Pressure
Two other pitchers are pushing into the conversation. Milwaukee Brewers rookie Jacob Misiorowski struck out 15 batters in a complete-game shutout against the Phillies on June 12 — the most strikeouts by any NL pitcher in a single game this season, according to Stadium Rant. His performance vaulted him into the starting discussion as a dark-horse pick.
Philadelphia's own Cristopher Sanchez adds a local angle. The game is at Citizens Bank Park. Phillies shortstop Trea Turner previously called the omission of Sanchez from past rosters a "joke," according to CBS Sports. Skipping a deserving Phillie in Philadelphia for a second straight year risks a hostile crowd during the All-Star festivities.
Fans vs. Merit: What Roberts Will Weigh on July 13
The core debate is simple. Ohtani leads the NL in OPS and carries an otherworldly 0.74 ERA. He is also the sport's biggest draw. LA Times notes that Ohtani received over 3.9 million Phase 1 All-Star votes in 2025, a number he is expected to top in 2026. MLB and broadcaster Fox have a clear financial interest in Ohtani throwing the first pitch of the showcase.
But Shaikin frames it differently. He argues Yamamoto "reminded his manager" of his value with the near-no-hitter, and that Roberts faces "the uncomfortable position of picking one son over another." Roberts will reveal his answer at the All-Star press conference in Philadelphia on July 13, one day before the game.
Sentiment
NeutralPublishers
17
Articles
17
Reach
17
