LA Dodgers in control against New York Yankees in World Series but questions remain over Shohei Ohtani’s fitness for Game 3

The Los Angeles Dodgers left Dodger Stadium with a 2-0 series lead over the New York Yankees, enjoying a stunning start to the World Series.

But it is a lead which has come at a cost as superstar Shohei Ohtani sustained a left shoulder injury as he attempted to steal second base in the bottom of the second inning in Game 2.

Now, as the Dodgers prepare to travel to Yankee Stadium for at least the next two games, the team will anxiously await news about Ohtani, whose injury silenced the crowd and changed the atmosphere of the game.

Ohtani sustained a left shoulder subluxation, or partial dislocation, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told reporters afterward.

“We’re going to get some tests at some point tonight, tomorrow, and then we’ll know more in the next couple days,” Roberts said. “But the strength was great. The range of motion, good. So we’re encouraged.”

Will Smith and Alex Vesia of the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrate their 4-2 win over the New York Yankees following Game 2 of the World Series at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Saturday, October 26.

New York Yankees first baseman Anthony Rizzo reacts after being hit by a pitch in the ninth inning of Game 2.

Giancarlo Stanton of the New York Yankees sits in the dugout during the eighth inning.

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Michael Kopech shushes the New York Yankees dugout during the eighth inning.

Fans cheer as Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto leaves the game during the seventh inning of Game 2.

Los Angeles Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani holds his arm after suffering an injury while trying to steal second base during the seventh inning. Ohtani eventually walked off the field with trainers holding his left arm.

New York Yankees first baseman Anthony Rizzo tosses his helmet after striking out against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the fourth inning of Game 2.

Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman celebrates after hitting a solo home run in the third inning. The run put the Dodgers up 4-1.

Yankees outfielder Juan Soto hits a solo home run in the third inning, putting the first points on the board for New York.

Dodgers fans celebrate a home run hit by Tommy Edman in the second inning of Game 2.

The Dodgers’ Yoshinobu Yamamoto pitches in the first inning of Game 2.

Rapper Ice Cube performs before the game.

Yankees pitcher Carlos Rodón warms up before Game 2.

Freddie Freeman of the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrates after hitting a walk-off grand slam in the tenth inning of Game 1 on Friday, October 25. The grand slam gave the Dodgers the 6-3 Game 1 win.

The Los Angeles Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman celebrates with teammates after his walk-off grand slam.

The New York Yankees’ Nestor Cortes leaves the field after giving up the walk-off grand slam to Freeman, costing the Yankees Game 1 of the World Series.

Alex Verdugo of the Yankees dives to catch a foul hit by the Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani in the tenth inning of Game 1.

Jazz Chisholm Jr. of the Yankees steals second base during the tenth inning of Game 1.

Aaron Judge, right, and fellow Yankees take the field during the eighth inning.

Dodgers pitcher Brusdar Graterol reacts after striking out Giancarlo Stanton of the Yankees during the seventh inning of Game 1.

Shohei Ohtani of the Dodgers is forced out by Yankees first baseman Anthony Rizzo during the sixth inning.

The New York Yankees’ Giancarlo Stanton, left, celebrates his two-run home run with Juan Soto during the sixth inning. The homer put the Yankees up 2-1.

Dodgers outfielder Enrique Hernández scores past New York Yankees catcher Austin Wells on a sacrifice fly ball by Will Smith in the fifth inning of Game 1. It was the first run of the game.

Fans cheer at Dodger Stadium. These two teams last met in the World Series in 1981, which was won by the Dodgers.

Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman breaks his bat as he grounds out in the fourth inning.

Dodgers pitcher Jack Flaherty throws to a New York Yankees batter in the second inning of Game 1.

Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge takes the field ahead of the game.

Fans sing along with the Mariachi band playing during a tribute to Fernando Valenzuela before the game. Valenzuela, the legendary pitcher whose incredible rise to stardom with the Los Angeles Dodgers captivated baseball fans and created the cultural phenomenon known as “Fernandomania,” died on Tuesday, October 22, at 63.

Country artist Brad Paisley sings the national anthem before Game 1.

Fireworks are set off during the national anthem.

Fans take a photo inside Dodger Stadium ahead of Game 1.

The best photos from the 2024 World Series

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When asked about how the Dodgers will handle Ohtani potentially missing games, Roberts quickly responded that he is “not there yet.”

“I’m expecting him to be there. I’m expecting him to be in the lineup,” Roberts said.

Even with Ohtani’s injury, the Dodgers are now firmly in the driving seat to take the World Series after their last-gasp, historic Game 1 win and tense Game 2 win too. They are just two wins away from their second World Series title in five years, and their first in a full, non-Covid affected season since 1988.

“You’re not trying to lose in front of your home crowd,” said Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman, who became the first player in more than a decade to homer in the first two games of a World Series, per MLB.com. “You want to get those wins early, and you’re going into a tough place to play.”

In previous best-of-seven postseason series, teams who have taken a 2-0 lead have gone on to win 77 of 92 times (84%) while under the current 2-3-2 format teams who have won Games 1 and 2 at home have gone on to take the series 45 of 56 times (80%).

“No one said it’s going to be easy,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone told reporters after Game 2. “It’s a long series, and we need to make it a long series now. We won’t flinch. We’ve just got to keep at it.”

Los Angeles Dodgers’ Teoscar Hernández watches his two-run home run in Game 2.

But both games have turned on fine margins – one extraordinary hit from Freeman powered the Dodgers to a Game 1 win and the Yankees stranded the bases loaded in Game 2 – so New York are remaining upbeat, though clear-eyed, about their chances of snatching this series.

“This series could easily be 2-0 us,” Stanton told reporters. “That’s what happens when you’re an extremely good ballclub on the other side. It could go any way.”

Pressure often disperses itself unevenly across a team and in the Yankees’ case, that pressure is falling on the shoulders of Yankees slugger Aaron Judge, who is struggling to replicate his extraordinary performances in the regular season.

“I’ve definitely got to step up, and I’ve got to do my job,” Judge told reporters after Game 2. “Guys around me are doing their jobs, getting on base, and I’m failing at backing them up. We’ve got to turn it around in Game 3.”

Meanwhile, Clarke Schmidt will make his third career postseason and first World Series start pitching for the Yankees. Walker Buehler will start on the mound for the Dodgers, seeking to channel teammate Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s performance in Game 2 as he allowed just one hit across 6 1/3 innings.

How to watch and full schedule

Every one of the best-of-seven series games will be broadcast on Fox in the US, with each contest starting at 8:08 p.m. ET.

The schedule is as follows:

Game 3: Monday, October 28 – Los Angeles Dodgers at New York Yankees from Yankee Stadium, 8:08 p.m. ET

Game 4: Tuesday, October 29 – Los Angeles Dodgers at New York Yankees from Yankee Stadium, 8:08 p.m. ET

Game 5*: Wednesday, October 30 – Los Angeles Dodgers at New York Yankees from Yankee Stadium, 8:08 p.m. ET

Game 6*: Friday, November 1 – New York Yankees at Los Angeles Dodgers from Dodger Stadium, 8:08 p.m. ET

Game 7*: Saturday, November 2 – New York Yankees at Los Angeles Dodgers from Dodger Stadium, 8:08 p.m. ET

*if necessary