SAN DIEGO — Going into Game 4 of their National League Division Series, Freddie Freeman was a game-time decision with his injured right ankle.
The decision was he could not play. Freeman was scratched from the lineup during the Dodgers’ pre-game workout.
Freeman has been receiving treatment and painkilling injections in order to play. He played all of Game 1 and went 2 for 5. But he was removed after five innings of Game 2 and seven innings of Game 3.
After Game 3, he was asked how his ankle felt.
“Pretty bad,” he said.
When asked if he would be able to play in Game 4, Freeman just said, “Tomorrow is tomorrow.”
“A lot goes into it before these games, but I was able to get through today, and tomorrow we’ll reconvene, and we’ll start all over again tomorrow,” Freeman said.
Hours before game time, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Freeman’s ankle was “okay enough to give it a shot until it’s not.”
“He’s doing everything he can to be in there,” Roberts said. “So, like I said, he’s in there right now. But unless something changes as he’s getting ready, I might have to pivot. But right now he’s in there.”
Roberts had to pivot. Max Muncy moved to first base – a position he has played for just five innings since the end of the 2021 season. In the final game of the regular season that year, Muncy reached into the baserunner for an errant throw and suffered an elbow injury that kept him out of the postseason and still affected him during the 2022 season.
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“Well, besides the ball up the line – for obvious reasons – it’s a position I’m very comfortable at,” Muncy said earlier in the week. “I’ve played most of my career there, almost won a Gold Glove there. It’s a spot that kind of comes naturally.
“If I have to go over there, the only thing that would worry me is that it’s because Freddie’s not in the game. But as for myself, it wouldn’t be a big issue.”
Additionally, shortstop Miguel Rojas was not in the Game 4 lineup after aggravating his strained adductor muscle and leaving Game 3 early.
“Miggy Ro is banged up,” Roberts said. “I don’t think he’s even available but maybe in a pinch-hit spot. The plan is to win tonight, give them tomorrow off and be ready potentially for Game 5.”
Neither Freeman nor Rojas was moved off the roster. If they were dropped for injury reasons, they would not eligible for a potential NLCS. That left the Dodgers with a two-man bench for Game 4 – rookie outfielder Andy Pages and backup catcher Austin Barnes.