NEW YORK — On Monday night, Shohei Ohtani was included in the starting lineup as the designated hitter for the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 3 of the World Series, just two days after suffering a partial dislocation of his left shoulder.

Ohtani sustained the injury while attempting to slide into second base during the seventh inning of Saturday night’s Game 2 matchup against the New York Yankees, which the Dodgers won 4-2.

As the Dodgers strive for their eighth championship title and second in five years, they currently hold a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series. Walker Buehler is set to take the mound for Los Angeles in Game 3, facing Clarke Schmidt from the Yankees.

During the seventh inning on Saturday, Ohtani grimaced and clutched his left forearm after being tagged out by shortstop Anthony Volpe in a feet-first slide. The star player remained near the base for a few minutes until athletic trainers came to his aid, eventually leading him off the field.

In Game 2, Ohtani went 0 for 3 but did manage to draw a walk. Across the initial two games of the World Series, he is 1 for 8 at the plate and is batting .260 with three home runs and 10 RBIs in his first experience of postseason play in the Major Leagues.

Ohtani, a two-time AL MVP with the Los Angeles Angels, signed an unprecedented 10-year contract worth $700 million with the Dodgers last December.

At 30 years old, Ohtani had an impressive regular season, posting a batting average of .310, along with 54 home runs, 130 RBIs, and 59 stolen bases—making history as the first player to achieve at least 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in a single season. While he has been limited to designated hitter duties this season, Ohtani did not pitch following elbow surgery on September 19, 2023.