The Los Angeles Dodgers finished off the New York Mets in Game 6 of the National League Championship Series despite being without Freddie Freeman for the second time in three contests.
Freeman also missed Game 4 of the NLCS due to a sprained right ankle that he has been dealing with since the end of September.
Freeman went just 3-for-18 in four games against the Mets and recently admitted he is having trouble with his routine because of the pain.
The eight-time All-Star wishes he could have been part of the NL pennant-clinching win but thanked his Dodgers teammates for giving him a chance to play in the World Series, via SportsNet LA:
“I’m trying. Every day is a grind. I appreciate my teammates. That’s three wins without me in there, scored a lot of runs, so I appreciate them giving me the chance to get back in there. Hopefully I’ll be ready to go by Friday. I’ll do my best to get this ankle as good as I can these next four days.”
With Game 1 of the World Series set for Friday at Dodger Stadium, Freeman will have had exactly one week of rest since his last time being in the lineup.
If he isn’t able to play, Max Muncy will likely get another start at first base. The 34-year-old has been among the Dodgers’ best hitters in October and set an MLB postseason record by reaching base safely in 12 consecutive plate appearances against the Mets.
Freddie Freeman’s postseason stats
In Game 5 of the NLCS, Freeman had a hard-hit line drive caught that was in the first inning, and later grounded out in his second at-bat. He then struck out in two ensuing at-bats, including once on a borderline pitch with the bases loaded.
Freeman is just 7-for-32 with one RBI in the 2024 postseason. He recently has appeared to lack enough stability to take usual swings and has been limited defensively as well.
The initial expectation was that Freeman would be in the Dodgers lineup for Game 6 against the Mets. Manager Dave Roberts explained the change was partly because Freeman “just doesn’t feel like himself.”
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