Dave Roberts Provides Full Update on Shohei Ohtani Ahead of Game 3 for Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts provided a full update on Shohei Ohtani’s injury Sunday. Ohtani is expected to play in Game 3 of the World Series against the New York Yankees Monday night.
Roberts didn’t reveal what the MRI of Ohtani’s shoulder showed, but based on his conversations with the training staff, he expects Ohtani to be in the lineup tomorrow. The final decision will come down to Ohtani’s pain level and tolerance.
“As far as test results, 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. He should be at the ballpark here in the next 30 minutes, and going to go through the workout.”
Roberts also said Sunday’s workout will help determine, or rather confirm, Ohtani’s status for Game 3.
“Yeah, I think that taking dry swings, which he’s done,” Roberts added. “Then obviously taking balls off the tee, batting practice in the cage, that’s going to be telling. I think that he’s obviously very well aware of himself and his body. So if he feels good enough to go, then I see no reason why he wouldn’t be in there.”
Roberts explained that following Game 2 at Dodger Stadium, Ohtani went through several tests with trainers and imaging to get a clear picture of his status for the next few games in New York.
“Just kind of went into the training room obviously and got with the trainers, the doctors, and did a lot of strength and range of motion tests, then got some ice on it,” Roberts said. “Then at some point he got imaging. I don’t know if it was that night or yesterday morning or this morning — whenever it was, yesterday morning. That’s kind of about it.”
Ohtani didn’t fly with the team due to the imaging he had done on his left shoulder. The Ohtani injury situation will likely be similar to how the Dodgers approached Freddie Freeman’s ankle injury. Ohtani’s pain tolerance will determine when or if he plays.
Walker Buehler also shared what it means to have Ohtani in the lineup for Game 3.
“Any time you have probably the best baseball player in the world, I think it’s going to help and frees up some of the other guys to kind of play with a little less pressure or a little more freedom, however you want to say it,” Buehler said.
Photo Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images
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