The Dodgers expect Shohei Ohtani to be ready to hit when the reigning World Series champions open their season in Japan against the Cubs on March 18 and 19.

“I don’t think he’d have it any other way,” manager Dave Roberts said Monday of the NL MVP who had left shoulder surgery last month. “That’s our expectation.”

Coming off his third MVP award, Ohtani is doubtful to pitch while recovering from right elbow surgery in September 2023. Roberts said a mound appearance for the two-way star in his home country is “very unlikely.”

Ohtani had surgery Nov. 5 to repair a torn labrum in his non-throwing shoulder, an injury the 30-year-old sustained while sliding during a stolen base attempt in Game 2 of the World Series on Oct. 26. He didn’t pitch at all during the first season of his 10-year, $700 million deal with the Dodgers while recovering from surgery on the elbow, which also previously underwent Tommy John surgery in October 2018.

NFL: Joe Burrow threw a tiebreaking 40-yard TD pass to Ja’Marr Chase with 1:01 left and the host Bengals claimed a 27-20 victory against the Cowboys on Monday night. The Bengals (5-8) had lost three straight. Cowboys LB DeMarvion Overshown tore the ACL, MCL and PCL in his right knee during the game.

Soccer: Kylian Mbappé was substituted because of an apparent injury during the first half of Real Madrid’s Champions League match against host Atalanta on Tuesday, minutes after scoring his 50th career goal in the competition. The match ended too late for this edition. ... Mohamed Salah’s 50th UCL goal maintained visitor Liverpool’s perfect record in the competition this season with a 1-0 win over Girona.