During the Dodgers’ series finale against the Padres last week, Freddie Freeman tripped across first base and down the right field line, attempting to dodge a tag before crashing onto the outfield grass, eliciting a collective moan from Dodger fans. He was gripping his ankle while being attended to by trainers, and a review showed that it appeared to be just a few degrees away from breaking.
He arrived at LA’s division clinch celebration on crutches and with a boot on his right foot. This is not what the Dodgers expected for one of their Big Three, especially with the postseason only a few days away.
After the game, the club announced that Freeman’s X-rays were negative, but he will not accompany them to Colorado for their last regular-season matchup. However, they hoped he would return for the NLDS.
Over the final couple months of the season, any injury to a Dodger felt like the end of the world. After all, Los Angeles lead baseball in time spent on the IL this season, and fans have had to go through innumerable updates on improvement and regression since Opening Day. It was wonderful that the Dodgers were optimistic, but it did not instill much confidence.
Freeman’s post-game description of his ankle, “It’s like a grapefruit,” did not help matters.
Freddie Freeman is coming out of the game after twisting his ankle while trying to avoid a tag at first base pic.twitter.com/GweYEOghnL
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) September 27, 2024
Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman used a dubious descriptor when talking about his ankle injury
He was obviously referring to the edema, which can be handled, but if the swelling was that severe, it does not speak well for a return in Game 1 of the NLDS on Saturday. Dave Roberts remains confident that he and Miguel Rojas, who is struggling with an adductor injury, will be in the lineup, but the Dodgers still have a backup plan in place if Freeman is unable to play.
While it’s generally not a smart idea to leave a postseason squad waiting for too long, the week between the Dodgers’ final regular-season game and the NLDS provides a decent cushion of time to allow Freeman to recuperate.
His bat was a touch chilly by the time he got hurt, and his playoff performance against the Diamondbacks last year left a lot to be desired, but it’s a new October, and having Freeman in the lineup — especially if the Dodgers have to face the Padres — will undoubtedly be preferable to not having him.
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