Freeman welcomes rest before Series: 'I will be in the lineup for Game 1'
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LOS ANGELES -- There¡¯s no secret that Freddie Freeman hasn¡¯t been 100% throughout the postseason.
After suffering a serious right ankle sprain on Sept. 26, the Dodgers¡¯ first baseman has spent more than three hours a day getting treatment, hoping the ankle can improve enough in order to play.
At times, that has worked. Freeman has played in eight of the Dodgers¡¯ 11 games in the 2024 postseason.
Other times, Freeman¡¯s ankle hasn¡¯t responded as well as he would like. He has missed three games, including the Dodgers¡¯ 10-5 win over the Mets in Game 6 of the National League Championship Series. In fact, the Dodgers are 3-0 this postseason without Freeman in the lineup.
With the Dodgers preparing for the World Series against the Yankees, they won¡¯t have to worry about being without Freeman, who is expected to be hitting third in Game 1 on Friday night at Dodger Stadium.
¡°Right now, I¡¯m not thinking about game-time decisions,¡± Freeman said. ¡°I think with this time off, it¡¯s going to be a 100% go for me in Game 1 and we¡¯ll adjust off of that after Game 1. But I don¡¯t think there¡¯s any question in anybody¡¯s mind that I will be in the lineup for Game 1.¡±
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Freeman has struggled at the plate this postseason, going 7-for-32 without an extra-base hit. He has avoided making an excuse but did say that he felt his mechanics were compromised in Game 5 of the NLCS against the Mets.
That¡¯s when Freeman and manager Dave Roberts decided to have a conversation the star first baseman wanted to avoid. Roberts and the Dodgers decided it would be best to sit Freeman in Game 6 with hopes of the layoff before the World Series would allow him to reset physically and at the plate.
¡°I think it certainly hit him not being able to be a part of things, and certainly, not being a part of Game 6,¡± Roberts said. ¡°But appreciating the fact that we got four more days to nurse his ankle back to health. I think there¡¯s only upside in that.
¡°I think mentally, I think he¡¯s in a good spot -- anxious, obviously, with the ankle. But I don¡¯t doubt the fact that he¡¯ll be in there for Game 1, and hopefully with these days that we¡¯ve gotten ourselves out of the woods and we can manage him throughout the World Series.¡±
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Despite some of Freeman¡¯s struggles and not playing 100%, getting him back in the lineup is a huge positive for the Dodgers. With all the talk surrounding superstars Mookie Betts, Shohei Ohtani, Juan Soto and Aaron Judge, it could be easy to forget about the immense impact Freeman has in the Dodgers¡¯ lineup.
¡°With all injuries, treatment and rest and time away from the initial injury is only going to be better,¡± Freeman said. ¡°So we¡¯re just trying to do the best we can to get it into a spot where we¡¯re ready to go on Friday.¡±
Freeman¡¯s availability past Game 1 will be determined by how he feels after going through treatment on game days. But for now, the Dodgers will be thrilled with getting Freeman just a little bit healthier, giving them even more offensive firepower for the showdown against the Yankees.
¡°I feel like I¡¯m in a good spot to be able to do the work on my swing today and work hard and hopefully be able to do that over the next couple of days,¡± Freeman said. ¡°And give myself a great chance on Game 1.¡±