Dodgers announce status for Game 3 of the WS

NEW YORK – Crisis averted for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

A day after superstar Shohei Ohtani suffered a partial shoulder injury in Game 2 of the World Series on Saturday, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told ESPN that Ohtani “is in a great spot and will play in Game 3 tomorrow.”

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

“The power was great. The range of motion was good. So we’re encouraged,” Roberts said after the Dodgers’ 4-2 win.

Ohtani injured his left shoulder, slid into second base during a seventh-inning steal attempt and left the field with a trainer after lying on the ground.

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

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

Ohtani, signed for $700 million last winter, became the first player in history to hit 50 home runs and 50 steals in a single season and will likely be the unanimous MVP of the National League. The 30-year-old is making his first career postseason appearance and has three home runs, 10 RBI and an .863 OPS in 13 games in the Los Angeles playoffs.

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

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