Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani will be available to play in Game 3 of the World Series, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said at a news conference on Sunday.
Roberts said that the final decision may depend on whether Ohtani can endure the pain that comes with the left shoulder subluxation he suffered in Game 2 of the World Series Saturday.
“If he feels good enough to go, I see no reason why he wouldn’t be in there,” Roberts said Sunday at Yankee Stadium, the site of Monday’s Game 3.
A shoulder subluxation is described as a situation where “the humerus partially slips in and out of its socket rapidly,” by Johns Hopkins Medicine.
Robert disclosed that Ohtani would be in Yankee Stadium on Sunday evening to try out the ailing shoulder.
“He’s got to still go through the workout and swing the bat,” said Robert. “But again, today is better than yesterday and our expectation is tomorrow is going to be better than today.”
And so with that, that’s what I’m banking on.” Ohtani injured his knee during a stolen base attempt in the Dodgers’ 4-2 victory over the New York Yankees in Game 2, which gave LA a two games to none lead in the best of seven series.
The Dodgers were leading 4-1 in the bottom of the seventh inning; Ohtani tried to steal second base but was thrown out to end the inning.
Ohtani stayed on the ground writhing in pain and had to be helped off the field by trainers with his left arm.
The FOX broadcast also captured the microphones that recorded Ohtani telling trainers that his left shoulder feels dislocated.
This is Ohtani’s first MLB Postseason, as he was left out in each of his six seasons with the Angels.
The star player is on a roll of impressive performances in the recent past season, which include achieving the 50th homer and 50th steal in the same game against the Miami Marlins in September.
Ohtani proceeded to amass the 51st of each of that by the end of the game. While Ohtani has had a great start in his first season with the Dodgers, the 30-year-old player has had some physical issues.
Ohtani had elbow surgery in September of 2023 – the same day he opened the 50-50 club – and was told he probably wouldn’t be able to pitch again until 2025; on paper, significantly diminishing the value of the otherworldly two-way player.
Although he is no longer pitching, Ohtani is the betting favorite for the NL MVP, which could become the first to be awarded to a player who only DHed.
Ohtani has been doing his best to recover from his elbow, to the point of throwing a ball in a mound in practice this past month, which caused rumors and hopes that he may be able to pitch in the playoffs.
Roberts quickly dismissed such speculation though, responding to reporters on the eve of Game 1 that there is ‘no chance’ Ohtani will pitch in the playoffs.
“None whatsoever.” This story has been updated with some more information.
