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Dodgers reveal status of Game 3 WS

Posted on by L. Dreeye
Dodgers reveal status of Game 3 WS

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NEW YORK — If Shohei Ohtani can overcome the pain, he will play in Game 3 of the World Series for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Manager Dave Roberts said Sunday night at Yankee Stadium that he expects Ohtani to play in Game 3 on Monday night if the batter and leadoff hitter can tolerate discomfort two days after suffering a subluxation of his left shoulder in Game 2 on Saturday night.

“If (Ohtani) feels well enough to go, I don’t see any reason why he wouldn’t be there,” Roberts said Sunday night.

Ohtani flew separately from the team and was expected to arrive in New York on Sunday night after undergoing a shoulder test in Los Angeles, Roberts said. The manager said hitting the ball off the tee and practicing hitting the ball in a closed cage “will speak volumes.

“I think he’s obviously very aware of himself and his body.”

After Saturday’s game, Roberts expressed confidence that Ohtani had avoided serious injury, but the Dodgers’ designated hitter had to undergo additional testing to confirm.

Roberts said Sunday that Ohtani’s situation is not unlike that of Cody Bellinger, who suffered a dislocated shoulder in 2020 while celebrating his home run in the National League Championship Series. The shoulder was repaired and Bellinger played in the World Series.

Still, Ohtani’s situation is slightly better than Bellinger’s: Ohtani injured his left shoulder, and Bellinger injured his right. Since both are left-handed hitters, the load on the right lead hand is much greater.

Ohtani injured his left shoulder while sliding into second base while attempting a steal in the seventh inning of Game 2 and left the field with his coach lingering on the ground.

“The whole stadium went silent,” Dodgers outfielder Teoscar Hernandez said.

The Dodgers lead the World Series 2-0, with Games 3, 4 and 5 (if necessary) to be played Monday through Wednesday at Yankee Stadium in New York.

Ohtani may not be in the best shape. But Roberts isn’t too concerned, especially given Ohtani’s huge presence if he gets into the game against Yankees Game 3 starter Clarke Schmidt.

“If he’s able to play, wants to play, he’ll play,” Roberts said. “Schmidt will know that Shohei is in the box, and that means everything.”

Signed last winter for $700 million, Ohtani became the first player in history to hit 50 home runs and 50 steals in a single season and is likely to become the unanimous National League MVP. Playing in his first career postseason, the 30-year-old has three homers, 10 RBIs and an .863 OPS in 13 games during Los Angeles’ playoff run.

He was 1-for-8 in the first two games of the World Series against the Yankees.

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