NEW YORK — The Dodgers have hoped for the best on injuries all season only to be disappointed many times.Maybe not this time.
Sources with the team confirmed that Shohei Ohtani recovered well Sunday — “shockingly well,” one source said — from the partial dislocation of his left shoulder suffered during Game 2 of the World Series on Saturday night.
Ohtani was examined by doctors Sunday morning before heading to New York.
With an off day Sunday, it’s possible Ohtani could be in the Dodgers’ lineup for Game 3 on Monday at Yankee Stadium. According to one report, the Dodgers’ slugger has been cleared to play, manager Dave Roberts told ESPN in a text message Sunday. Roberts was set to speak to media at Yankee Stadium later Sunday.
Ohtani was injured sliding into second base when he was caught stealing to end the seventh inning of Saturday night’s 4-2 victory in Game 2 at Dodger Stadium.
Ohtani clutched his left forearm after being tagged by shortstop Anthony Volpe for the final out in the seventh on a feetfirst slide. He laid near the bag for a couple minutes before being tended to by trainers and leaving the field.
Roberts said on Saturday night that Ohtani “had a little left shoulder subluxation” and would get image testing either Saturday night or Sunday. Roberts said after the game he was encouraged that Ohtani had good strength and range of motion in the shoulder, but the team needed to see the results of his scans before knowing his status.
The Dodgers hold a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven Series and is two wins shy of its second championship in five years.
The Japanese slugger — and presumptive National League 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.
Ohtani had been one of the few players on the Dodgers roster who got through the season without a major injury. The pitching staff has been beset by injuries, with nearly every member of the starting rotation spending time on the injured list.
Among the position players, Mookie Betts was out for nearly two months due to a broken left hand, and Max Muncy was out nearly half the season due to a right oblique strain. Freddie Freeman is playing in the postseason with a badly sprained right ankle.
Ohani has not pitched this year but became the first player in major league history with at least 50 homers and 50 stolen bases in a season.
Content from The Associated Press is included in this report.