Freeman scratched from LA's Game 4 lineup
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SAN DIEGO -- Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman, who has been battling a badly sprained right ankle, was scratched from L.A.'s lineup for Game 4 of the National League Division Series against the Padres.
"He just had overall body soreness," manager Dave Roberts said after the Dodgers' 8-0 win Wednesday night. "The ankle, the side. And we had a good conversation. And I just don't feel good about putting a player in there when he's not at his best because of the name on the back of his jersey."
The Dodgers put out a lineup Wednesday afternoon with Freeman in his customary No. 3 spot and manning first base, but he was replaced at first by Max Muncy about two hours before first pitch, with Kik¨¦ Hern¨˘ndez moving from center field to replace Muncy at third and Chris Taylor taking over in center.
"Like I said, I was day to day. Just happy to get a Game 5," Freeman said Wednesday night. "Had a full day's rest today. Didn't even try to run on it. [Friday], we'll get to the field, do treatment and see how it goes."
Freeman started the first three games of the NLDS, but he exited Game 2 on Sunday night with right ankle soreness and was removed for a pinch-runner in Game 3 on Tuesday night after singling in the eighth inning with the Dodgers down a run.
After spraining his ankle on Sept. 26 against the Padres, Freeman was told the injury would typically require a four- to six-week IL stint. He returned to game action a little more than a week later and has been active as long as the Dodgers deemed him to be effective in spite of playing through pain.