Dodgers News: Freddie Freeman Praises Rookie Pitchers, ‘They’re Giving Us a Chance to Win’

The Dodgers have been no strangers to injuries this season. It has decimated their pitching staff and they have had to rely on multiple rookie pitchers to carry them through. To their credit, the rookies have done their jobs effectively despite some growing pains along the way. 

It has been really cool to see the growth of some of these players and their contributions to the team’s success isn’t going unnoticed. Without them, who knows where the Dodgers would be at this point and I’m sure it means a lot when their teammates give them credit. 

That’s exactly what star Freddie Freeman did after rookie Emmet Sheehan got the win over the Baltimore Orioles on Monday night. Sheehan didn’t have his best stuff but he stayed with it and gave the team a chance, which is all the organization can ask for. 

“I just feel like they’re still giving us a chance to win and I feel with our offense we’re always in it,” said first baseman Freddie Freeman, who had three hits in the game (a single, double and triple). “It’s like today – five innings, four runs that he (Sheehan) gave up, right? So that’s going to be a 7.00 ERA or something like that. But it gave us a chance.”

Per The OC Register

Sheehan finished the game going five innings and allowing four runs and five hits. He looked shaky in the first two innings but seemed to calm down once the third inning took place.

Between Sheehan, Bobby Miller, Gavin Stone and Michael Grove, they have combined for a 6.08 ERA on the season entering Grove’s start on Tuesday. But even with the higher run average, the Dodgers have won 16 of the 25 games started by the rookie arms, also entering Tuesday. It’s a testament to the offensive machine that LA has been this season and to the pitchers for continuing to push through any struggles they’ve seen.

“I think it can get construed a little differently. But I feel like they’re giving us a chance to win. That’s all you can ask while they’re learning. They’re taking the ball every five days. … I can’t ask for much more. Like today, that was a good start for us – gave us a chance, kept us in it, covered five innings then we scored some runs and the bullpen came in and shut it down.”

Per The OC Register

If the rookies can continue to give LA good chances to win games, they will remain in the rotation. The experience that they are getting right now is second to none and the Dodgers may have some future cornerstones of their rotation on their hands.

It’s been impressive to see and as the season heads towards the home stretch, LA will likely be relying on the rookies even more so. The team is expected to look for help at the trade deadline but these rookies have made names for themselves and could be here to stay.

Photo Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

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