Shohei Ohtani will officially play in Game 3 of the World Series on Monday night.
Ohtani, after injuring his shoulder in the Los Angeles Dodgers’ win over the New York Yankees in Game 2 of the series on Saturday, was officially listed in the starting lineup for Monday’s contest in the Bronx. Ohtani will lead off for the Dodgers, which had largely been expected.
Ohtani went down with a shoulder injury while attempitng to steal second base in the seventh inning of Saturday’s 4-2 win over the Yankees.
He remained down on the ground in pain after his left arm took a direct hit and awkwardly popped back as he slid into second. Ohtani was called out, and he left the game there.
While Ohtani left the stadium almost immediately after the game ended, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has only had positive updates since. He said on Sunday in New York that Ohtani was “feeling good” and “in a great spot.”
“I think that he’s obviously very well aware of himself and his body, so if he feels good enough to go, I see no reason why he wouldn’t be in there,” Roberts said on Sunday.
Ohtani made MLB history this year when he became the first player to pull off a 50-50 season. He ended the regular season with 59 stolen bases on 63 attempts, though he has failed now on both attempts so far in the postseason.
The Dodgers hold a 2-0 series lead over the Yankees entering Monday night’s game. Ohtani had one hit and scored a run in their Game 1 win, and he didn’t have a hit on Saturday. He was walked in the seventh inning of that contest, which is what led to his stolen base attempt and injury.
The Dodgers are searching for their first World Series title since 2020. Ohtani is competing in his first playoffs this fall, too, after he missed the playoffs in his first six seasons in the league with the Los Angeles Angels.
