All-Star first baseman Freddie Freeman was not in the starting lineup for the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 4 of the National League Championship Series against the New York Mets.
Freeman has been dealing with a badly sprained and swollen right ankle throughout the playoffs. He also missed Game 4 of the Division Series against San Diego when Los Angeles was facing elimination.
Even without Freeman, the Dodgers won 10-2 against New York, giving them a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series and bringing them one win away from their 25th pennant, the most in National League history.
“I feel really good. We’re just trying to manage it,” Freeman said after the game. “I’ll be out there tomorrow.” Earlier, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts explained that resting Freeman was “the right decision.”
“He’s obviously hurting and doing everything he can to stay on the field. With back-to-back games and one tomorrow, we’re trying to decide what puts him in the best position for the games ahead,” Roberts said on Thursday evening.
“And just tonight seemed easy. Obviously, he wants to be in there. But having him not start and run on and off the field for a big spot made a lot of sense.”
Roberts mentioned he might use Freeman as a pinch hitter in a crucial moment, but that situation never arose. He called Freeman after Wednesday night’s win to inform him about the rest so he could make the most of it.
“He asked me if he was being benched. That’s one thing. He doesn’t offer up days off,” Roberts said, making reporters chuckle.
“I know how hard he’s working to stay on the field. So I think he understood that it was for his best interests to not start tonight’s game. But he handled it like a professional.”
Freeman has been spending hours each day on pregame treatment just to prepare for games.
“I don’t think my respect could be any more for Freddie. To be honest, there’s a lot that goes into it. But I don’t really want to know all the details,” Roberts said.
“I just want to know if he’s playing or not, knowing he’s in good hands with our training staff. But what he has to do to get ready for a game these days is a big challenge.”
Los Angeles had a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven NLCS before Thursday night’s game at Citi Field. With the Mets starting veteran left-hander Jose Quintana, the Dodgers made some lineup changes: Max Muncy moved from third base to first, and Kiké Hernández shifted from center field to third base.
Rookie outfielder Andy Pages, who bats right-handed, was set to start in center, batting eighth. Pages also played center in Game 2 against left-hander Sean Manaea.
Teoscar Hernández took Freeman’s usual No. 3 spot in the batting order. Switch-hitting shortstop Tommy Edman batted cleanup for the third time in his career — all since August 29 with the Dodgers.
Edman doubled twice and drove in three runs, giving him seven RBIs in the NLCS. He has a .726 career OPS and has never hit more than 13 homers or 57 RBIs in any of his six major league seasons. But he’s batting .324 this postseason and is 7 for 17 (.412) in the NLCS.
Chris Taylor played second base, batting ninth, instead of Gavin Lux — a left-handed hitter who missed Game 2 due to a right hip flexor injury. Lux returned in Game 3 against right-hander Luis Severino and went 0 for 4 with a strikeout, not hitting the ball past the pitcher.
“I think it was a combination. He’s had some games against left-handed pitchers. Quintana has been really tough on lefties, getting them to hit ground balls and striking them out. So that’s one part of it,” Roberts said about Lux.
“Also with the leg, I’m just trying to give him an extra day to heal, but I want to have him ready if we need him late in the game.”
The 35-year-old Freeman, a .300 career hitter in 15 seasons, hurt his ankle while running to first base against the Padres during the last week of the regular season. An eight-time All-Star and the 2020 NL MVP with Atlanta, he is 7 for 27 (.259) with one RBI and no extra-base hits during the NL playoffs.
“He’s in a lot of pain out there. You can see it when he’s running. But he’s inspiring us as players and as a teammate. He’s willing to put his body on the line,” Dodgers catcher Will Smith said.
“It’s impressive. It motivates us. We love having him in the lineup. He’s been hitting well for us. Unfortunately, he’s not playing today, but I know he’ll be back tomorrow.”
New York also made a lineup change, starting Harrison Bader in center field instead of Tyrone Taylor.
Mets manager Carlos Mendoza explained that Bader had three “really good at-bats” against Game 4 Dodgers starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto back in April.
Taylor was hitting .138 (4 for 29) in the postseason with two doubles, three walks, and eight strikeouts. He made a great catch on the right-center warning track to keep Edman to a sacrifice fly early in Game 3.
“Taylor is a pretty good defender. Bader is an elite defender,” Mendoza said. “Again, just three at-bats, but I don’t think anyone had a large sample size against Yamamoto. We only faced him once. So I decided to go with Bader.”
