Ohtani set to play Game 3 of World Series after injury

Superstar Shohei Ohtani is set to play for the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 3 of the World Series at Yankee Stadium on Monday night despite a partially dislocated left shoulder.

Ohtani was injured when sliding into second base when he was caught stealing to end the seventh inning of Saturday night's 4-2 victory over the New York Yankees in Game 2 at Los Angeles.

I just don't see him not playing Game 3," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said before Sunday night's workout at Yankee Stadium. "If he feels good enough to go, then I see no reason why he wouldn't be in there."

Ohtani did not travel with the team to New York in order to undergo scans. He was on a separate flight.

"As far as test results, we've got doctors scrambling everywhere. 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."

Los Angeles holds a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven Series and are two wins shy of their second championship in five years.

With Ohtani expected to test his shoulder at practice on Sunday night, 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."

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.

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.

The two-way star did not pitch this season while recovering from elbow surgery on September 19, 2023, and has been limited to designated hitter.