Freddie Freeman has been mired in a lengthy slump, which can be partly attributed to a right knee tendinitis that sidelined him for back-to-back games last week.
After going 0-for-8 in the Dodgers’ final two contests at loanDepot Park, Freeman bounced back with a three-hit performance in their series opener against the Cincinnati Reds. It was only his second multi-hit game of the month and first with three since Aug. 17.
“I’ve been kind of working on this new thing in the cage these last couple days,” Freeman said on SportsNet LA. “Got to go for results-based things right now. I’ve got to get hot with two weeks to go. I’m looking to be hot for a few weeks. That’s all I’m trying to do.”
Freeman is exploring unorthodox ways to get back on track and recalled a key adjustment he made that led to his historic showing in the 2024 World Series.
“Just doing different work. I’m trying to find something that gets me results. We’re at the time where we’re just trying to get hot for five weeks here,” Freeman noted.
“Kind of like I did in the World Series a couple years ago, I did the step-out move. That’s not sustainable over six months. (But) I’m not trying to find something that’s sustainable. I’m trying to find something that works for four weeks.”
Freeman followed his three-hit effort by going 0-for-5 in the Dodgers’ 6-2 loss to the Reds on Wednesday. He initially wasn’t expected to be in the lineup but showed enough encouraging signs that convinced Dodgers manager Dave Roberts to change course.
Freeman started again in the finale at Great American Ball Park and went 2-for-3 with an RBI as the Dodgers clinched the National League West division.
Dodgers managing Freddie Freeman’s right knee injury
With just over a week remaining in the regular season, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts made it clear that the Dodgers are prioritizing the health of their players over anything else and will closely manage Freeman’s workload.
“I think it’s one of those things where we’ve got to manage it, and when I say that, it’s just pick spots to give him an off day here or there,” Roberts recently said. “Again, we’ve just got to make sure he’s at optimal health when we finish the season. So I think that he might not love it, but giving him a day off here or there might be beneficial.”
Have you subscribed to the Dodger Blue YouTube channel? Be sure to ring the notification bell to watch player interviews, participate in shows and giveaways, and stay up to date on all Dodgers news and rumors!
