Three days prior to the National League Division Series, the Los Angeles Dodgers have given Freddie Freeman a significant update.
“Freeman has been taking swings in the batting cage,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said on Wednesday. “He’ll probably face live pitching either Thursday or Friday.” While acknowledging that Freeman’s ankle ailment may be “limiting” for him both defensively and on the bases, he is optimistic that Freeman will start the first game of the NLDS.
These next few days will be used to gauge his potential effect throughout the postseason.
During last Thursday’s victory over the San Diego Padres, Freeman sprained his ankle. Jake Cronenworth attempted a wild throw to first base in the bottom of the seventh inning, which Freeman attempted to evade. Freeman rotated his ankle and took an odd step in an attempt to avoid the tag. Watch the play on video here:
Although he didn’t go to Colorado with the team, Freeman was sure he would return for the first NLDS game. As things stand right now, Freeman is likely to make that happen. For Freeman to recover nearly to full health, though, these next two days will be critical.
In 147 games this season, Freeman knocked in 89 runs batted in and finished with a slash line of.282/.378/.476.
