Latest on Dodgers’ plans for Shohei Ohtani in World Series Game 3

NEW YORK — In the aftermath of the Yankees’ Game 2 World Series loss last Saturday night in Los Angeles, Anthony Rizzo asked a reporter how Shohei Ohtani was doing after he finished a group interview at his Dodger Stadium locker stall.
There was genuine concern for Ohtani’s left shoulder injury, which occurred on a slide into second base on a stolen-base attempt.
There certainly was no joy for the Yankees that a World Series that’s been one-sided could turn if the opposition’s $700 million designated hitter was done for the series.
“You hope he’s OK for the sport,” Rizzo said. “You want your best players in the field.”
Indeed, the Yankees probably will be getting a lot more of Ohtani, who is expected to be in the Dodgers’ lineup for Monday night’s Game 3 at Yankee Stadium.
“That’s my expectation talking to the training staff and getting the reports,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said.
Ohtani’s injury is a partially dislocated left shoulder that is far less serious than a fully dislocated shoulder.
Roberts said playing Ohtani won ‘t risk further damage by playing, but there could be some discomfort.
“If it’s a per tolerance situation, I just don’t see him not playing Game 3,” Roberts said. “I don’t see him being compromised. It’s the left shoulder, which is the back shoulder. So I don’t see how that affects his hitting, if he’s able to go.”
The Dodgers won the first two games of the World Series at Dodger Stadium. Games 3 and 4 will be played at Yankee Stadium, as will Game 5 if the Dodgers’ don’t sweep the best of seven.
A final call on the Dodgers’ green-lighting Ohtani for a Game 3 start will be on what his MRI results show.
“We’ve got doctors scrambling everywhere,” Roberts said. “I don’t have them. This is more me going by the training staff.
Shohei feeling good this morning, range of motion, strength.”.
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Randy Miller may be reached at [email protected].