Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts provided a detailed update on Shohei Ohtani’s shoulder injury and explained why he is in the lineup for Game 3 of the World Series.

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“He was adamant he was going to play,” Roberts said. “I watched him swing in the cage last night, he looked really good and strong. The ball came off the bat.

“I think there was more uncertainty for all of us, but he had it in his head from day one, from Saturday night, that he was going to play.”

Roberts also shared what the MRI scan revealed on Ohtani’s left shoulder.

“No structural damage,” he said.

Roberts is encouraged that Ohtani completed nearly all of his normal pregame routines at Sunday’s practice in the Bronx.

“That was encouraging because he basically did probably 80 percent of his normal routine yesterday. That was encouraging and there were no compromises at all.”

Ohtani’s injured shoulder is not vulnerable when he is in the batter’s box because it is his back shoulder that is hurting. In 2020, Cody Bellinger also suffered a shoulder injury, but his shoulder was at risk of being hit by a pitch.

“I say the front shoulder is harder because normally when a batsman is in front or deceived, you lose the bat on the backhand. And with the right arm – in this case for a left-handed person – you start to become vulnerable when your arm goes away.

“The back elbow – the back shoulder – is more connected. You’re just less likely to get some visibility with a swing and a miss or a ball forward.”

“Cody Bellinger did it in 2020 with the front shoulder, where he was very careful. But in a vacuum, the back shoulder is better.”

Bellinger hit a home run in that game, and it’s very likely Ohtani could do the same.

Losing Ohtani in the lineup could have resulted in a huge change in momentum as the series heads back east to New York. Now that the Dodgers have confirmed Ohtani will be in the lineup, the Yankees will have to do their best to contain the former MVP.

“Well, I think it’s certainly an advantage for us to have him in the batter’s box,” Roberts said. “No matter what limitations a pitcher believes he or she has, not many people are willing to take that risk. I just expect him to control the strike zone, let the attack shots come to him and swing and fire when the ball is in a strike zone.

“Again, we’re just really grateful that he’s in the lineup.”