The Los Angeles Dodgers have allowed Freddie Freeman to play through a right knee injury as of late, while occasionally taking him out of the lineup when they see fit.
The Dodgers took a similar approach with Shohei Ohtani’s various ailments, but the team has been slightly more willing to rest Freeman compared to the four-time MVP.
Given the way Ohtani’s health regressed while continuing to play through injury, it begs the question of whether the Dodgers are making the same mistake with Freeman.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts acknowledged the concern over the weekend, but believes Freeman’s situation is different and does not necessitate a trip to the injured list.
“I think that’s certainly a valid question,” Roberts said on SportsNet LA. “I just think that right now with where we’re at in the season, an IL is not an option in the sense of I personally don’t think we have a better option. So I don’t think it needs to be 10 days, but could it be more than one?
“That’s a fair question. I’ve got to talk to the training staff, Freddie, and ultimately make that decision. But I don’t think an IL makes sense at all.”
Both Roberts and Freeman previously confirmed the knee injury is affecting the 37-year-old at the plate and in the field. The good news is that resting Freeman for just a couple of days has proven to reduce the severity of discomfort.
The Dodgers are not concerned with the injury getting worse, but they will continue to monitor his condition to make sure that remains the case. Before Tuesday’s game, Roberts said he would be watching each of Freeman’s at-bats closely to evaluate his right knee.
Freeman said his knee felt better heading into Tuesday’s contest after missing Monday’s game.
“Feels better today than he did yesterday, which is a good thing. I’ll re-evaluate after tonight,” Roberts began. “But obviously, there’s a day game on Thursday, so just kind of being mindful because I want him in that game on Thursday. I’ll be watching him closely.”
Dodgers need Freddie Freeman down the stretch
The Dodgers still have plenty to play for this season after clinching their 14th consecutive playoff berth.
L.A. is also closing in on another National League West title, but they still have work to do to clinch a top-two seed in the National League. Securing a first-round bye would be significant for the Dodgers, given the current injuries to Ohtani, Freeman and others.
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