The Los Angeles Dodgers dealt with a few new injuries at the end of the season, most notably Freddie Freeman and Miguel Rojas.
Freeman rolled his right ankle after stepping on first base while trying to avoid a tag. Rojas re-injured his left adductor that has been causing him trouble on and off for some time now.
With the National League Division Series approaching in less than a week, both injuries caused some extra concern. However, the Dodgers are optimistic Freeman and Rojas will be in the lineup for Game 1 of the series.
Manager Dave Roberts reiterated that stance as the Dodgers finished out the regular season, via Jack Harris of the L.A. Times:
“I don’t see any reason both those guys don’t get in lineup,” Roberts said.
If either of Freeman or Rojas end up being unable to start, the Dodgers would have some decisions to make if they should still carry them on their postseason club in hopes they’d be available as the NLDS progresses.
If Rojas is unable to start, Tommy Edman would be the obvious answer to fill in. For Freeman, the situation becomes a little more complicated.
Kiké Hernández has worked as the Dodgers primary first baseman when Freeman has been away, but he profiles better at third base. Max Muncy also has a lot of experience at first, but it’s been a while since he’s played there.
Still, without Freeman, the Dodgers would turn to Muncy as their first baseman with Hernández at third:
In that scenario, “Max would then work out during this bye week at first base,” Roberts said. “But again, I expect this is a more short-term thing.”
Roberts still being adamant that won’t come up is encouraging, but the Dodgers have a long history of injury projections not turning out their way.
Getting Freeman back in the lineup is important for a Dodgers team that’s going to rely on their lineup through the postseason, and he would likely be willing to play through some discomfort. Still, the question remains if he’ll be healed enough to get back on the field by Saturday, Oct. 5.
Max Muncy’s career at first base
Muncy has 2,275 career innings at first base, spending a lot of time there from 2018 through 2021 until Freeman was signed.
However, he has played just five innings there since then, which all came during the 2022 season. Muncy would have to shake off some rust, which is a reason he never moved there during the season for any of Freeman’s absences.
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