Will Freddie Freeman Play in Game 2? Dodgers Star Weighs In
Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts was prepared with another option.
Just more than four hours before Saturday’s 7-5 win in Game 1 of the National League Division Series against the San Diego Padres, Roberts had an alternate lineup without Freddie Freeman’s name. He was almost certain his first baseman wouldn’t be playing.
He went 2-for-5 with a stolen base.
Freeman arrived at the park at 11 a.m., more than 6.5 hours before the first pitch. By 1:30, he still believed he had only a “very, very slim chance” of making it into the lineup.
Freeman received at least one injection for pain relief and to numb his side, as reported by a source familiar with his condition who was not permitted to speak publicly. The medication improved his condition, allowing him to complete his pregame routine.
Initially, he practiced in an indoor batting cage with flips, tees, and coach pitches before heading to the field nearly three hours before game time. He completed some light sprints, performed his usual fielding drills, and consulted with Dodgers officials and medical staff.
As he left the field, Freeman mentioned he needed to complete one more task: simulating game action by hitting off a Trajekt machine, a pitching robot that replicates pitches from any pitcher’s windup.
He checked that box and the Dodgers posted their lineup at at 3:17 p.m., less than 2.5 hours before the first pitch.
The first thing Freeman told Ken Rosenthal during his postgame interview on FS1 was “I can’t thank the training staff enough.” Roberts joked in his postgame news conference that Freeman was, “certainly medicated.” Freeman acknowledged afterward, “There’s some help,” while noting that everything he took was with a doctor’s prescription.
Freeman told reporters after the game that he is set to repeat the entire process before Sunday’s Game 2.
“I’ll be here at 10:45,” Freeman said, “to start it all over again.”
Photo Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images
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