Freddie Freeman knew Wednesday morning that he wouldn’t play in Game 4 against the San Diego Padres.
The Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman had breakfast with manager Dave Roberts, and the two agreed that he would not be playing even though the team was facing elimination.
Despite knowing the situation, Roberts wrote Freeman’s name in the lineup anyway.
“It was a little gamesmanship,” Freeman said.
A little less than two hours before the first pitch, Freeman was officially scratched.
The Dodgers routed the Padres, 8-0, at Petco Park to force Game 5 on Friday. Freeman is taking his ankle injury one day at a time. He hasn’t said what his status is for the winner-take-all contest.
“Like I said, it’s day-to-day,” Freeman said after the game. “Just happy we got a Game 5.”
Freeman said he had a full day of rest and didn’t even try to run on it. His plan for Thursday is to go to the field for treatment and see how it feels.
The ankle needs weeks to heal and if this were the regular season, he would be on the injured list for at least four weeks — but he doesn’t have time.
A bone bruise in his foot adds to the pain and his side constantly aches. Injections and treatments have barely kept him going, allowing him to finish just one complete game during the Dodgers’ National League Division Series against the Padres. Each time he takes the mound, it takes hours of work to get the former MVP ready to pitch again.
“What he’s been doing,” Max Muncy said, “has been gladiator-style.”
So, Muncy said, “Every single guy in here went up to Freddie and said, ‘Hey, we got you. Don’t worry.’”
The Dodgers stepped up without the injured Freeman and shortstop Miguel Rojas. Eight relievers combined to shutout the Padres and the bottom of the Los Angeles lineup broke out of the series funk.
“When you get into the postseason, it’s a street fight,” Roberts said. “It’s about people, players, and your desire has got to be more than your opponent. And for me to see our guys go through what they’ve been through and respond the way they have really makes me excited about Game 5.”
The first pitch of Game 5 is scheduled for 5:08 p.m. PT on Friday at Dodger Stadium.
