Dodgers take commanding lead in World Series as Yankees bats stay silent

Two patterns are emerging in the 2024 World Series, and they’ve combined to put the Dodgers on the brink of a championship. One: Freddie Freeman keeps homering. Two: The Yankees just aren’t hitting.

NEW YORK — Shohei Ohtani wasn’t on the team bus from Dodger Stadium to Los Angeles International Airport because he was getting tests Saturday night after partially separating his left shoulder in Game 2 of the World Series.

So the Japanese star reached out in a group chat with fellow Dodgers players to erase any doubts over his status.

“The text just like literally said: ‘I can play,’” infielder Max Muncy recalled Monday. “I mean, there was more to it than that.”

True to his word, Ohtani remained in the lineup in his regular leadoff slot as the designated hitter for Game 3 of the World Series. He walked leading off the game and scored on Freddie Freeman’s two-run homer, starting the Dodgers to a 4-2 win over the New York Yankees and a 3-0 World Series lead.

Ohtani was 0 for 3 with a walk and a hit-by-pitch, looking uncomfortable as he winced and grimaced while swinging. He dropped to 1 for 11 in the Series.

“If it was more of the right shoulder, then I think it would have impacted my swing,” he said via interpreter. “Thankfully, it was my left, so I don’t think it really did.”

He was the only Dodgers starter wearing a warmup jacket during pregame introductions and high-fived teammates with his right hand. A black wrapping was visible over his left shoulder, which Ohtani said was there to help keep his shoulder warm.

He didn’t swing in his first plate appearance, taking four balls from Clarke Schmidt. Ohtani kept his left arm at an angle over his chest while at first base, hand holding his collar, and held it there while rounding the bases on Freeman’s homer.

Ohtani grounded out in the third and held the hand to his chest as he jogged back to