Shohei Ohtani in the Dodgers lineup for Game 3 of the World Series

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

Ohtani injured himself 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 in Los Angeles.

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

Ohtani clutched his left forearm after being hit on a foot-first slide by shortstop Anthony Volpe in the seventh game Saturday night. He lay near the sack for a few minutes before being attended to by athletic trainers and leaving the field.

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 homers and 10 RBIs in his first postseason in the majors.

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

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