Ohtani starts, scores while protecting shoulder on bases

NEW YORK -- After days of speculation, Shohei Ohtani was in the Dodgers’ starting lineup as their leadoff hitter in a 4-2 win over the Yankees in Game 3 of the World Series at Yankee Stadium on Monday night.

The Dodgers’ star designated hitter went 0-for-3, but he reached base twice after drawing a leadoff walk to start the game and scoring on Freddie Freeman’s two-run homer. He also was hit by a pitch in the ninth inning.

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More importantly, however, Ohtani didn’t suffer any setbacks and will be back in the lineup for Game 4 on Tuesday, with the Dodgers holding a commanding 3-0 World Series lead and looking to finish off a sweep.

“I thought he did a really nice job of competing,” said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. “I don't think that it got any worse. Obviously, just him in the batter's box starting the game off, getting on base by way of walk. Yeah, I just really appreciate him posting tonight.”

Two days after he sustained a left shoulder subluxation while sliding into second base on a stolen-base attempt in the seventh inning of Game 2, Ohtani passed every test leading up to the game. Though there was outside concern, Ohtani texted his teammates almost immediately after Game 2, letting them know that he was going to be OK and expected to be back in there for Game 3.

When he was introduced for starting lineups, Ohtani ran out on the field wearing a warming device on his injured left shoulder. Then after taking a four-pitch walk, he supported his left shoulder by holding onto his jersey, something the team encouraged him to do in case a play was involved where he needed to slide.

Even with some of the changes, Ohtani said he wasn’t compromised enough to not play in the Fall Classic.

“I taped myself up today,” Ohtani said through interpreter Will Ireton. “So it did feel different … compared to when I don't tape myself. The last at-bat, I felt like, if I took that ball, it would have been a walk. So I still felt like I had a pretty good at-bat there.”

Though Roberts said the team will wait and see how Ohtani continues to feel after playing a whole game, the expectation is that he will be in the starting lineup the rest of the way. After the season, however, Ohtani said he wasn’t sure if he was going to need a procedure.

Historically, players who suffer shoulder subluxations are more prone to further subluxations and sometimes require surgery to resolve the issue.

“I haven't had further conversations about the future plan,” Ohtani said. “I think it's something that's going to happen after the season is over, do additional testing. But in terms of how I feel now, I don't think so.”

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The favorite to win the 2024 NL MVP Award after producing the first 50-50 campaign in MLB history, Ohtani has a .245 batting average in his first MLB postseason, with three home runs, 10 RBIs, 13 walks and an .837 OPS.

Ohtani, signed to a 10-year, $700 million deal in free agency last offseason, is an obvious force at the plate and his presence in the Dodgers’ lineup is massive, as was evident in his first plate appearance against Clarke Schmidt.

“He’s gonna grind out at-bats for us, and it doesn’t matter what it looks like,” said Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy. “When he’s in that batter’s box, he’s always a threat, so that’s the important thing.”