Shohei Ohtani will return to the lineup in Game 3 of the World Series on Monday night, October 28 despite leaving the previous game with a shoulder injury.
That's the message relayed by ESPN's Karl Ravech, longtime host of the sports network's "Baseball Tonight" program, from the Los Angeles Dodgers manager to him.
On Sunday afternoon, Ravech shared the details in a post on X (formerly Twitter): "Dodgers manager Dave Roberts [tells] me, Shohei Ohtani is 'in a great spot and will be playing in game 3 tomorrow.' "
Also Sunday, numerous other media outlets reported on the Dodgers workout at Yankee Stadium the day after Los Angeles' 4-2 victory over the New York Yankees included Ohtani sustaining a left shoulder injury (partial dislocation, also called a subluxation) on a failed stolen-base attempt at second base in the seventh inning.
MLB.com's headline: "Dodgers' banking on' Ohtani to start in Game 3 following shoulder injury."
The results and medical diagnosis of MRI scans on Ohtani's left shoulder were not yet available on Sunday night, according to Roberts, MLB.com reported.
A Manager's Perspective on Shohei Ohtani
That said, the Dodgers skipper maintained an optimistic outlook on Ohtani, who flew to New York after undergoing medical tests on his shoulder. (His Los Angeles teammates arrived in New York at an earlier hour on a different flight.)
"He still has to go through the workout and swing the bat," Roberts said of Ohtani at Yankee Stadium, MLB.com reported. "But today feels better than yesterday, and our assumption is tomorrow's going to feel better than today. So with that, that's what I'm banking on."
Before the team's Monday night workout, Roberts elaborated on his viewpoint.
"I just don't see him not playing Game 3," Roberts was quoted as saying by The Associated Press. "If he feels good enough to go, then I see no reason why he wouldn't be in there."
As the Dodgers leadoff hitter, Ohtani is 1-for-8 with a walk in the World Series.
Los Angeles holds a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.
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Author: Ed Odeven
Find Ed on JAPAN Forward's dedicated website, SportsLook. Follow his [Japan Sports Notebook] on Sundays, [Odds and Evens] during the week, and X (formerly Twitter) ＠ed_odeven.
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