Shohei Ohtani will play in Game 3 of the World Series after suffering a shoulder injury

NEW YORK (AP) — Shohei Ohtani is expected to play in Game 3 of the World Series, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts confirmed Sunday. ESPN first reported the news.

Ohtani was scheduled to receive an MRI before Game 3 to determine the severity of the shoulder injury he sustained in Game 2 on Saturday. Roberts said after the game that Ohtani suffered a subluxation, a partial dislocation, of his left shoulder. Early strength and movement tests appeared promising, said Roberts, who otherwise declined to speculate on a timeline before Ohtani underwent an MRI.

Ohtani attempted to steal second base, as he did multiple times during his historic 50-50 year. But this time it was different. After being marked, he winced in pain. Dodger Stadium went quiet. Replay showed Ohtani bracing his slide with his left arm, which he carefully held on to as he weakened his way back to the home dugout.

In two World Series games, the Dodgers have secured a 2-0 lead, largely despite Ohtani going 1-for-8 as the team's designated hitter. Excellent starts from Jack Flaherty and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, as well as timely goals from Freddie Freeman, NLCS MVP Tommy Edman and others, have put Los Angeles in a commanding position heading into three away games in New York.

Of course, losing the presumptive National League MVP to injury would have been no less devastating. Ohtani became the first player to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in a single season, with 54 and 59, respectively.

(Photo: Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)