Shohei Ohtani, Dave Roberts project confidence ahead of NLCS Game 3, even as injuries continue to stymie Dodgers superstar

LOS ANGELES — A rising gust of whispers funneled through the subterranean hallways beneath Dodger Stadium. Each media member, once made aware of the unexpected, passed the news on to the next person they saw. The hum grew into a chatter as reporters filed back into the cramped news conference room.

When Ohtani actually entered the room, followed by members of Dodgers PR and his interpreter, Will Ireton, the din turned to silence in an instant, like the shutting off of a transistor radio.

Rarely does the Dodgers superstar speak to the media. During the regular season, the established routine was for Ohtani to answer eight or so questions after games in which he pitched. After his two-way exploits were halted in early July, he was made available only a handful of times.

However, these are not regular circumstances.