Freddie Freeman is helped off the sphere after struggling an ankle sprain towards the San Diego Padres on Sept. 26.
(Ashley Landis / Related Press)
The Dodgers are remaining optimistic that Freddie Freeman (sprained ankle) and Miguel Rojas (adductor tear) might be prepared for Sport 1 of the NLDS.
Based mostly on Thursday’s workforce exercise, nevertheless, Rojas looks as if the a lot safer guess.
After lacking the ultimate 4 video games of the common season, throughout which period he received an injection to assist ease the ache of an damage that bothered him all through the ultimate month, Rojas was a full participant in Thursday’s actions. He joined the workforce in base-running drills. He took grounders on the infield. And he performed within the workforce’s intrasquad scrimmage.
“Miggy looks really good,” Friedman mentioned. “I think the time off has really helped him.”
Rojas mentioned he feels “kind of the same that I felt in September” however remained assured that he’ll be capable of play by way of it in the course of the postseason.
“Trying to do the best I can to take care of myself off the field so I can be playing in these games,” Rojas mentioned.
Forty-eight hours out from Sport 1, Freeman appeared like a a lot greater query mark.
The primary baseman didn’t communicate with reporters Thursday or take part in any of the workforce’s pre-scrimmage drills on the sphere. Freeman did take reside at-bats within the scrimmage however appeared to nonetheless be strolling gingerly.
Freeman additionally didn’t play within the discipline in the course of the scrimmage, with Max Muncy at first base as an alternative. Supervisor Dave Roberts mentioned final week that Muncy would most likely play first towards the Padres (with Kiké Hernández at third base) if Freeman is unable to go.
Friedman did say that Freeman took swings within the batting cage earlier than the scrimmage and that his ankle “has gotten progressively better” every single day since he twisted it attempting to beat out a grounder at first base final Thursday.
Nevertheless, Friedman additionally acknowledged that “today will be a big test” because it pertains to Freeman’s Sport 1 standing.
“It’s hard because any time you talk to him about it, he’s like, ‘I’m good, I’ll be good,’” Friedman mentioned. “But it was a real sprain.”
Even when Freeman isn’t prepared for Sport 1, Friedman mentioned they are going to nonetheless carry the eight-time All-Star on their NLDS roster, remaining assured that Freeman — whose ankle would most likely pose an even bigger limitation defensively and operating the bases than along with his swing — will be capable of make an influence within the best-of-five sequence.
“Again, all of this, we’ll get a better feel for as he gets out there and does things,” Friedman mentioned. “He’s of the mind that he’ll be good, and that’s just what his mindset is.”
