Freddie Freeman, the star first baseman for the Los Angeles Dodgers, provided some insight regarding his status for Game 4 following a narrow loss to the San Diego Padres in Game 3 of the National League Division Series. The game was marked by a close call in the first inning when Jurickson Profar nearly robbed Mookie Betts of a home run, contrasting a similar play from Sunday. However, by the end of the chaotic second inning, the Dodgers found themselves on the losing end of a 6-5 score, leaving them facing elimination and in need of regrouping.
Freeman has been nursing an ankle injury sustained toward the end of the regular season and was visibly limping after hitting a single in the eighth inning. Despite the urgency of the situation—where the Dodgers were down by just one run—manager Dave Roberts opted to use a pinch runner, raising concerns about Freeman’s health as he made his way to the dugout.
The thought of the team potentially missing their key player for the must-win Game 4 is likely to unsettle Dodgers fans. Nevertheless, Freeman remains focused on the present. “Tomorrow is tomorrow,” he stated when asked about his ability to play in the next game, as reported by Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register.
For those hoping for a silver lining, Freeman reassured fans that he did not experience any setbacks with his injury: “I didn’t tweak anything; my ankle feels the same,” he shared with Dodgers Nation. The franchise’s history suggests that an injured star during the postseason doesn’t necessarily spell doom.
### Can the Dodgers Bounce Back?
Despite the alarming six-run second inning from the Padres, a deeper look at Game 3 reveals that the runs did not come from overwhelming offensive prowess. Instead, San Diego capitalized on several errors and defensive mishaps from the Dodgers. The inning began with a lead-off single by Manny Machado, followed by a pivotal moment when Freeman dove for a grounder from Jackson Merrill. In an attempt to force an out at second, Freeman was hindered by Machado, who cleverly obstructed the throwing lane, resulting in an error.
Compounding the situation, Dodgers shortstop Miguel Rojas, who left the game due to an aggravated abductor injury, also made a costly mistake by trying to beat a runner to second base. This misstep left two runners on base with no outs, allowing David Peralta to contribute to the scoring, which culminated in a two-run homer from Fernando Tatis Jr.
Freeman may feel the weight of that inning on his shoulders, knowing that a pivotal play could have turned the tide in favor of the Dodgers. However, if he can stay healthy, perhaps the baseball gods will shine favorably on him in Game 4. Fans are left anxiously awaiting updates on Freeman’s status for this crucial match-up against the Padres.
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