Dodgers Resting Freddie Freeman Again Despite Knee Improvement

Freddie Freeman will receive another day out of the Los Angeles Dodgers’ lineup despite reporting significant improvement in his injured right knee.

Manager Dave Roberts said Freeman will not start Monday’s series opener against the Cincinnati Reds after going hitless in both games following his return.

Freeman missed Wednesday and Friday because of right-knee soreness, with Thursday’s scheduled team off-day providing additional rest. He returned Saturday on his 37th birthday and described his knee as feeling “night and day better” compared with how it felt earlier in the week.

Two games later, however, the Dodgers have decided he needs another break.

Freeman went 0-for-8 during the final two games of the Dodgers’ series against the Miami Marlins. Roberts said the first baseman has not looked like himself at the plate and has not been moving as well as usual defensively.

The Dodgers expect Freeman to return Tuesday.

Freeman Returned Feeling Significantly Better

Freeman identified the issue as patellar tendinitis, a condition he has experienced before.

The knee had bothered him for several weeks before reaching a point where it affected his ability to play the way he wanted. After sitting out two games, Freeman said the difference in how he felt was substantial.

“Night and day better,” Freeman said before returning Saturday. (Dodgers Digest)

The improvement allowed Freeman to start at first base in both remaining games against Miami.

The results did not follow.

Freeman went 0-for-4 Saturday as the Dodgers’ eight-game winning streak ended with a 4-3 loss. He went hitless in four more at-bats Sunday and grounded into two double plays during Los Angeles’ 6-4 walk-off loss.

His hitless weekend extended his current drought to 16 consecutive at-bats. Freeman has only one hit in his last 25 at-bats.

Roberts Says Freeman Still Does Not Look Like Himself

Freeman may feel considerably better, but Roberts believes the knee is still affecting his performance.

“He’s obviously not moving as well as he’s used to,” Roberts said. “It’s been obvious the last week that he’s not himself in the box.” (CBS Sports)

The effects were also visible defensively Sunday.

Freeman had difficulty completing a play at first base during Miami’s ninth-inning rally. His flip toward pitcher Tanner Scott was off target, allowing Xavier Edwards to reach on an infield single before the Marlins eventually completed their comeback.

That play alone did not cause the Dodgers to rest Freeman. It did, however, reinforce that his movement remains compromised despite the improvement he reported.

Roberts previously explained that Freeman depends heavily on his right leg and front side when hitting. When the knee prevents him from bracing normally, his swing becomes more vulnerable.

The Dodgers manager had noticed more swings and misses from Freeman before the initial rest period, which he described as uncharacteristic for one of the lineup’s most consistent hitters. (MLB.com)

Dodgers Continue Managing Freeman Without IL Move

The Dodgers have not indicated that Freeman will require a stint on the injured list.

When first asked about that possibility last week, Roberts said placing Freeman on the IL was “absolutely not” under consideration.

The current plan is to manage the knee through treatment and scheduled rest rather than remove him from the active roster.

That could mean Freeman receives additional days off during the final two weeks of the regular season, even if he continues playing between them.

The veteran first baseman typically prefers to remain in the lineup. Roberts acknowledged that Freeman may not enjoy being rested periodically but believes it could benefit him as the postseason approaches.

Los Angeles is balancing its position in the National League standings against the need to have Freeman functioning as effectively as possible in October.

Freeman Expected Back Tuesday

Monday’s absence is currently scheduled as a one-day break.

Roberts said Freeman will have an opportunity to recover before returning Tuesday for the second game of the series in Cincinnati.

That timetable remains an expectation rather than a guarantee. The Dodgers will continue evaluating how Freeman’s knee responds to treatment and rest before finalizing Tuesday’s lineup.

Freeman’s “night and day” improvement remains encouraging. It suggests the initial time off helped reduce the discomfort caused by the patellar tendinitis.

But feeling better and looking fully healthy have not yet been the same thing.

The Dodgers saw enough during Freeman’s first two games back to determine that another day of rest was necessary.

With October approaching, Los Angeles is prioritizing Freeman’s ability to contribute in the postseason over keeping him in the lineup every day during the final stretch.