The Dodgers are once again the star of the Game 3 lineup

NEW YORK – A nasty slip and shoulder subluxation didn't stop Shohei Ohtani from suiting up for the World Series.

Ohtani was fighting for the lead in Game 3 on Monday night as the World Series moved to New York, two days after the Los Angeles Dodgers superstar partially dislocated his left shoulder on a stolen base attempt in Game 2.

His impact was immediate, even when he left the bat on his shoulder and took a four-pitch walk early in the game. Moments later, he hit Freddie Freeman's two-run home run, giving the Dodgers a 4-2 win and a 3-0 lead in the World Series.

MATCH 3 LIVE UPDATES: Watch the Dodgers-Yankees World Series showdown

While running the bases, Ohtani kept his injured left arm still, which he said protected him from himself.

“The reason I held on while running is to make sure I don’t use the same arm if I slip,” he said after the game through translator Will Ireton.

Ohtani flew separately from the team on Sunday after undergoing further tests, and manager Dave Roberts said Ohtani would be in the squad against Schmidt if he could get the pain under control.

As the Dodgers were on their way to the airport Saturday night, the players received a message from Ohtani in their group text message. The news was good.

“He texted the whole team as we were on the way to the airport and said he was going to be OK and that was it,” Dodgers infielder Max Muncy said. “He said he was going to play, so we all put it aside at that moment.”

“We said, all right, he’s got us. We’re ready to have him in the lineup.”

The team does not believe Ohtani will risk further injury through his play. Ohtani, the greatest two-way player in the history of the sport, doesn't throw until 2025 and the injury, of course, affected both his non-throwing shoulder and his trailing arm during his left swing.

“He was adamant he was going to play,” Roberts said. “I watched him swing in the cage last night, he looked really good and strong. The ball came off the bat.

“I think there was more uncertainty in all of us, but in his mind he wanted to play from day one – from Saturday night.”

Roberts confirmed that Ohtani is receiving myriad forms of treatment, including likely a cortisone shot, and his fears were eased when he saw Ohtani practice at Yankee Stadium late Sunday night.

“When I saw him in the cage from Saturday night to yesterday, hitting balls at 102 miles per hour off the tee, it was a joy,” Roberts said. “I don’t really think about where he’s at physically. He’s in the lineup, so that’s all I’m thinking about.”

Ohtani says he doesn't believe he will need surgery after the season, although further testing will be done. Right now it's Game 4 and a chance to win a World Series.

“I think that will happen when the season is over. Do additional testing,” he says. “But the way I feel now, I don’t think so.”

Get to the heart of the news quickly with the USA TODAY app. Download for award-winning reporting, crosswords, audio storytelling, the e-newspaper and more.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply