(Photo credit: Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images)

Shohei Ohtani makes his last pitching start prior to the All-Star break when the Los Angeles Dodgers host the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday night.

Ohtani has been battling right bicep, left knee and right hand blister issues recently but was cleared to make this start.

Ohtani will see limited action for the National League in Tuesday's All-Star Game at Philadelphia.

'When you're Shohei, he understands the responsibility he has, so I do think that there's a middle (ground) for what's best for him, what potentially could be downside, but also what's best for the game,' said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, indicating he expects Ohtani to get one or two at-bats before exiting.

Ohtani (8-2, 1.79 ERA) blanked Arizona on two hits over six scoreless innings while registering the victory on June 3. He also had the bat working that night as he went 3-for-4 with two walks.

Ohtani was 8-for-12 with four runs and two RBIs as the Dodgers took two of three from Arizona in that series at the start of June in Phoenix.

The Dodgers are 5-2 against the Diamondbacks this season entering the three-game set that concludes play before the All-Star break.

Ohtani, who turned 32 on July 5, is 1-0 with a 1.06 ERA in three career starts against Arizona.

The right-handed pitcher's most recent start was against the San Diego Padres on July 3. He gave up three runs and seven hits over six innings in a no-decision.

As a hitter, Ohtani homered twice as the Dodgers took two of three from the visiting Colorado Rockies this week. The second blast was the 300th of his career.

Freddie Freeman is batting .407 (24-for-59) over the last 15 games. He has logged three hits twice and two hits on seven other occasions during the stretch.

The National League West-leading Dodgers have won 12 of their past 16 games entering the series with the Diamondbacks.

Arizona recorded a 3-1 victory over host San Diego on Thursday to split a four-game set. The victory was just the fifth in the past 13 games for the Diamondbacks.

Third baseman Nolan Arenado, who stands six hits shy of 2,000, homered for Arizona, which is tied with San Diego for second place in the division, a staggering 14 1/2 games behind Los Angeles.

Left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez (7-3, 2.25) starts for the Diamondbacks and he is an All-Star for the first time in his 11-year career.

Rodriguez was a 19-game winner for the Boston Red Sox in 2019 but he wasn't tabbed. He definitely appreciates that he's finally on his way to an All-Star Game.

'After all these years, it's really special to have the opportunity to finally go to one,' Rodriguez told reporters. 'I thought I was never going to go to one because I'm usually better in the second half. I'm just really happy about it.'

Rodriguez, 33, lost to the visiting Milwaukee Brewers on Sunday when he gave up two runs and five hits over six innings.

Rodriguez is 2-4 with a 4.74 ERA in nine career starts against the Dodgers.

Ohtani is 7-for-23 (.304) with one homer and three doubles against Rodriguez. Miguel Rojas (7-for-10) is batting .700 against Rodriguez and Freeman is hitting .500 (10-for-20, one homer).

Teoscar Hernandez (10-for-28, three homers) also has fared well against Rodriguez. Kyle Tucker has hit two homers but is just 3-for-22.

The Diamondbacks reportedly informed first baseman Pavin Smith after Thursday's game that he will be designated for assignment. Smith, the seventh overall pick in 2017, was batting just .141 with one homer, one double and six RBIs in 28 games this season, his seventh with Arizona.

Arizona will recall rookie outfielder Ryan Waldschmidt from Triple-A Reno. Waldschmidt is the Diamondbacks' top prospect and was a first-round pick (No. 31 overall) in 2024.

--Field Level Media