Dodgers to play Game 3 without Ohtani following injury

In the seventh inning of Game 2 of the World Series on Saturday, Dodgers sensation Shohei Ohtani attempted a steal against the New York Yankees and partially dislocated his left shoulder.

Ohtani gripped his left forearm and lay on the ground at home plate for many minutes after being tagged out by Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe with a front-foot slide. After a while, trainers helped him and led him off the field.

Ohtani’s status for Monday’s Game 3 in New York is still unclear. The team’s manager Dave Roberts shared that Ohtani “had a little subluxation in his left shoulder” and would be undergoing imaging tests either Saturday night or Sunday. Roberts remained cautiously optimistic, explaining, “The strength was excellent. Range of motion is good, so we’re encouraged. But obviously I can’t speculate because I haven’t had the scans yet. So once we get the scans, we’ll know more.”

The Japanese standout and projected NL MVP went 3-0 with a walk in Game 2, although he’s currently 1-for-8 in his first two outings in the Fall Classic. In his debut postseason, Ohtani is batting .260, with three home runs and 10 RBIs.

Injuries have affected much of Ohtani’s career since joining the majors in 2018, particularly pitching-related issues that led to surgeries on his right elbow in both 2018 and last year. Though he hasn’t pitched this season, Ohtani made history as the first player to achieve at least 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in a single MLB season.

In 2019, he underwent surgery on his left patella to address a rare congenital condition, a bipartite patella, where his kneecap hadn’t fused at birth. Ohtani also missed the 2017 World Baseball Classic after needing ankle surgery due to an injury from the 2016 Japan Series.

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