Highlights
- Dodgers president Andrew Friedman said the team is very confident Ohtani will return to pitch despite an ailing knee.
- Los Angeles is also exploring a trade for Detroit's Tarik Skubal before the deadline, per ESPN.
- The D-backs swept the Dodgers in a three-game series July 12, improving to 49-47 and moving within 2.5 games of the third NL wild-card spot.
- Righty Zac Gallen landed on the injured list July 12 with right elbow inflammation, complicating Arizona's own rotation picture.
The Los Angeles Dodgers say they are very confident Shohei Ohtani will eventually return to the rotation despite an ailing knee, but the club is simultaneously checking on Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal should he become available before the trade deadline, Dodgers president Andrew Friedman told ESPN.
The dual-track posture matters to Scottsdale's spring-training crowd because it shapes the competitive landscape the D-backs will face down the stretch. Arizona swept Los Angeles in a three-game series ending July 12, posting a 5-3 final and handing the Dodgers, who entered the weekend with the best record in baseball, their first series sweep of the season.
The sweep pushed Arizona to 49-47 and within 2.5 games of the third National League wild-card spot. The D-backs' bullpen held Los Angeles scoreless and hitless over the final six innings, with closer Paul Sewald recording the game-ending strikeout.
The good news for Arizona came with a cost. Right-hander Zac Gallen was placed on the injured list July 12 with right elbow inflammation after a start in San Diego, thinning a rotation that would face a tougher test if the Dodgers add Skubal or get a healthy Ohtani back.
A Dodgers Nation report from July 25 noted Ohtani had suffered a setback in his return timeline and was targeting a bullpen session at Dodger Stadium, with his body's response to that session expected to determine next steps.
The trade deadline will clarify whether Los Angeles adds rotation depth or bets on Ohtani's recovery alone. Arizona's next series against the Dodgers will carry wild-card weight either way.
Sources
Every factual claim in this article traces to one of the sources below. See how we work for the editorial process.
- espn.com retrieved 30/07/2026 02:59
- AZ Central retrieved 30/07/2026 02:59
- dodgersnation.com retrieved 30/07/2026 02:59
Authored by The Scottsdale Signal. Drafted by AI from primary-source material under our beat-specific editorial guides; reviewed by humans before publish under our five-gate process. Sources retrieved at 30/07/2026 02:59. Every claim traces to a source.
