Hobbled Freeman not in lineup for NLCS Game 6

LOS ANGELES -- As he battles through a badly sprained right ankle, Dodgers star first baseman Freddie Freeman continues to struggle at the plate in the National League Championship Series -- and the Dodgers have adjusted their plans accordingly.

After Freeman’s 0-for-5 performance with a pair of strikeouts in the Dodgers’ 12-6 loss to the Mets in Game 5 of the NLCS on Friday night, manager Dave Roberts left the All-Star first baseman out of the lineup for Sunday's Game 6. Freeman is 3-for-18 (.167) in the four games he has played this series.

“Ultimately he just felt, we felt, that giving him another day is best for him,” said Roberts, who added that Freeman could potentially be available for a late at-bat. “He took batting practice yesterday, felt fine. But just doesn't feel like himself. So we just felt that potentially another day would help.”

Since spraining his ankle on Sept. 26, Freeman has spent multiple hours a day receiving treatment. As he plays through the injury, the pain hasn’t gotten any better.

“It is what it is,” Freeman said after Game 5. “I know what every day is like, I just wish I could do my routine. You guys know I’m very routine-based, and I haven’t been able to do it. I’ll get to the field tomorrow when the training room opens to get my treatment and right after that get in the cage to try and fix this swing.”

Freeman said he hasn’t felt good with his mechanics for quite some time, and that it’s “hard to say” if the ankle is the main contributor for his recent tough stretch at the plate. Though Freeman does have seven hits in the eight postseason games he has played, he has yet to record an extra-base hit.

“It’s like you’re running a 100-meter hurdle, and I keep hitting the same hurdle and I run right into it every time,” Freeman said. “It is what it is, and I’m doing the best I can.”

This isn't the first time Los Angeles rolled out a starting nine without its first baseman. Freeman was forced to miss Game 4 of the NL Division Series against the Padres and Game 4 of the NLCS. The Dodgers won both games, scoring a combined 18 runs.

The decision was likely easier for the Dodgers given that the Mets are starting left-hander Sean Manaea in Game 6. Max Muncy got the call at first base in Freeman’s absence, with Enrique Hernández sliding over to third. It also allowed Los Angeles to start Andy Pages, who homered twice on Friday, in center field.

Obviously, Freeman will still loom as a potential pinch-hitting option if Los Angeles needs him.

“If I’m not in there on Sunday,” Freeman said, “we’ll do everything we can to be available later in the game.”