Shohei Ohtani to play in Game 3 of World Series despite injury, report

Los Angeles Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani to start in Game 3 of the World Series at Yankee Stadium on Monday night with partially dislocated shoulder, says manager Dave Roberts

NEW YORK -- Concerns seemed to vanish and Los Angeles Dodgers players wore smiles at Yankee Stadium as they prepared for Game 3 of the World Series: Shohei Ohtani was scheduled to play Monday night even if he has a partially dislocated left shoulder.

Ohtani was injured while trying to steal second base when he was tagged out to end the seventh inning in a 4-2 win over the New York Yankees in Game 2 in Los Angeles on Saturday night.

Even fans and teammates were beginning to wonder if Sho could go this week.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that having Ohtani at the top of the lineup was nearly a lock.

“I just don’t see him not playing Game 3,” Roberts said before Sunday night’s workout. “If he feels good enough to go, then I see no reason why he wouldn’t be in there.”

Ohtani did not join the team to New York so that he could have imaging done on his elbow. He was on a separate flight.

“On the test results, we have doctors running all around.” I don’t have them,” Roberts said. “This is more me going by the training staff, Shohei feeling good this morning, range of motion, strength.”

Ohtani was expected to get to the ballpark in time for the workout, which began at 6 p.m. EDT He said Ohtani had been taking dry cuts since the injury and was going to hit off a tee and take BP in an indoor setup.

“That’s going to be telling,” the manager said. “He’s got to still go through the workout and swing the bat, but, again, today feels better than yesterday, and our assumption is tomorrow’s going to feel better than today.”

Roberts said the injury causes pain but “it's just everyone’s tolerance.”

“I don’t see him being compromised,” he added. “It’s the left shoulder, which is the back shoulder. So I don’t see how that affects his hitting, if he’s able to go.”

Seeking their eighth title and second in five years, the Dodgers lead 2-0 in the best-of-seven Series. Walker Buehler starts Game 3 for Los Angeles against Clarke Schmidt.

“If he is able to play, willing to play, he’s going to play,” Roberts said of Ohtani. “Schmidt will know that Shohei’s in the box, so that means everything.”

Ohtani clutched his left forearm after being tagged by shortstop Anthony Volpe for the final out in the seventh on a feetfirst slide. He laid near the bag for a couple of minutes before being tended to by athletic trainers and leaving the field.

The likely NL MVP was 0 for 3 with a walk in Game 2. He is 1 for 8 in the first two games of the Fall Classic and is batting .260 with three home runs and 10 RBIs in his first postseason in the majors.

A two-time AL MVP with the Los Angeles Angels, Ohtani joined the Dodgers last December for a record $700 million, 10-year contract.

The 30-year-old Ohtani hit .310 with 54 homers, 130 RBIs and 59 stolen bases, becoming the first player with at least 50 homers and 50 stolen bases in a season.