Freeman, dealing with an injury, sidelined from NLCS Game lineup

 LOS ANGELES -- Dodgers star first baseman Freddie Freeman, hindered by a severe right ankle sprain, has been struggling offensively in the National League Championship Series, prompting the team to make a lineup change.

Following Freeman's challenging 0-for-5 night, including two strikeouts, in the Dodgers' 12-6 Game 5 loss to the Mets on Friday, manager Dave Roberts opted to keep the All-Star out of Sunday’s Game 6 lineup. Freeman’s series performance sits at 3-for-18 (.167) across four games.

"Ultimately, he felt, and we felt, that giving him another day was best," said Roberts, noting that Freeman might still be an option for a pinch-hit appearance. "He took batting practice yesterday and felt fine but just doesn’t feel like himself, so we thought an extra day could help."

 

Since spraining his ankle on Sept. 26, Freddie Freeman has committed several hours each day to treatment, but the pain remains persistent. Despite pushing through the injury, the star first baseman hasn't seen improvement.

"It is what it is," Freeman remarked after Game 5. "I know what each day holds; I just wish I could stick to my routine. You guys know I’m very routine-based, and I haven’t been able to do that. I'll get to the field tomorrow when the training room opens, get my treatment, and then head to the cage to try and fix this swing."

Freeman admitted he hasn’t felt right with his mechanics for some time, but he’s unsure whether the ankle is the primary cause of his recent struggles at the plate. Though he’s managed seven hits across eight postseason games, Freeman has yet to notch an extra-base hit. 

“It’s like running a 100-meter hurdle race and hitting the same hurdle every time,” Freeman said. “It is what it is, and I’m doing the best I can.”

This isn’t the first time the Dodgers have gone without Freeman in the starting lineup. He missed Game 4 of the NL Division Series against the Padres and Game 4 of the NLCS, both of which the Dodgers won, scoring a combined 18 runs.

The choice may have been simpler for the Dodgers with Mets left-hander Sean Manaea on the mound for Game 6. Max Muncy will take over at first base, with Enrique Hernández shifting to third, opening a spot in center field for Andy Pages, who homered twice in Game 5.

Freeman remains a potential pinch-hitting option if the Dodgers need him.

“If I’m not in there on Sunday,” Freeman said, “we’ll do everything we can to be available later in the game.”