Shohei Ohtani cleared to play in Game 3 of World Series

NEW YORK (AP) - Shohei Ohtani was in the starting lineup as the Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter for Game 3 of the World Series on Monday night, two days after the star partially dislocated his left shoulder.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Dodgers win World Series Game 2; Ohtani leaves early with injury 

Ohtani got hurt sliding into second base when he was caught stealing to end the seventh inning of Saturday night’s 4-2 victory over the New York Yankees in Game 2 at Los Angeles.

Seeking their eighth title and second in five years, the Dodgers lead 2-0 in the best-of-seven series. Walker Buehler starts Game 3 for Los Angeles against Clarke Schmidt.

Ohtani clutched his left forearm after being tagged by shortstop Anthony Volpe for the final out in the seventh on a feetfirst slide Saturday night. He laid near the bag for a couple of minutes before being tended to by athletic trainers and leaving the field.

Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

The likely NL MVP was 0 for 3 with a walk in Game 2. He is 1 for 8 in the first two games of the Fall Classic and is batting .260 with three home runs and 10 RBIs in his first postseason in the majors.

A two-time AL MVP with the Los Angeles Angels, Ohtani joined the Dodgers last December for a record $700 million, 10-year contract.

The 30-year-old Ohtani hit .310 with 54 homers, 130 RBIs and 59 stolen bases, becoming the first player with at least 50 homers and 50 stolen bases in a season. The two-way star did not pitch this season while recovering from elbow surgery on Sept. 19, 2023, and has been limited to designated hitter.