The injured Shohei Ohtani was expected to play in the third game due to mounting tensions

Dave Roberts on Shohei Ohtan: ‘I don’t think he’s been compromised’

Ohtani injured his shoulder in the seventh inning of Saturday’s Game 2, a 4-2 victory over the New York Yankees, when he was caught trying to steal second.

He left the game at Dodger Stadium in visible pain, thanks to the help of an athletic trainer who held his left arm. After the Dodgers took a 2-0 series lead, the team announced a preliminary diagnosis of shoulder subluxation and additional tests were scheduled.

Until Saturday, Ohtani spent his first year with the Dodgers through 2024 injury-free, leading to a monster campaign in which he became the first player in baseball to post a 50-50 season.

But two wins away from winning his first World Series, Ohtani’s downfall couldn’t have come at a worse time. Ohtani was late to the field on Sunday after undergoing tests in Los Angeles, and Roberts ultimately said the decision to play him would depend on his pain tolerance.

Roberts also said that if Ohtani plays, there will be no concern that the injury will worsen or that the Japanese will not be able to play at his usual level, which, as the world has learned, is relatively high.

“When we make a decision that he can play, I will assume that there is no possibility,” Roberts said. “Honestly, it’s kind of in line with his tolerance. That’s exactly the point. The guys have had it before and played it and again, it’s just everyone’s tolerance.

“I don’t see him being at risk. It’s the left shoulder, or back shoulder, so I don’t know what effect that has on his shots – if he can Go. Really not.