Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman Out of Lineup For Series Opener, Not Going on Injured List

Freddie Freeman will begin the Dodgers’ series against the Baltimore Orioles on the bench.

He will not begin the series on the injured list.

Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic and Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times, citing unnamed sources, reported that Freeman is being held out of the lineup Tuesday in order to give the fractured middle finger on his right hand a chance to heal. The Dodgers did not play Monday.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts later confirmed the plan with reporters at Dodger Stadium on Tuesday.

Kiké Hernandez is getting the start at first base for just the second time this season, and batting ninth. Teoscar Hernández is batting third behind Shohei Ohtani and Mookie Betts.

Freeman, 34, is hitting .284 this season with 17 home runs and 73 RBIs. His .382 on-base percentage leads the Dodgers and ranks second in the National League this season. His .475 slugging percentage gives him an .856 OPS (141 OPS+).

An All-Star in July, Freeman missed eight games immediately after the break while his son, Max, battled a rare case of Guillain-Barre Syndrome. Since returning, he’s been slowed by a hairline fracture in his right middle finger.

Through Sunday, Freeman is 3 for his last 23 with seven strikeouts.

Freeman is currently under a 6-year, $162 million contract with the Dodgers that runs through 2027. A five-time All-Star, three-time Silver Slugger Award winner, and the 2020 National League MVP, Freeman has never been on the injured list since joining the Dodgers in 2022.

Last season, Freeman led the National League in doubles (59) while hitting 29 home runs and slugging .567. This year he’s seen his his slugging percentage fall nearly 100 points.

If Freeman’s power output can reasonably increase with more time off, an injured list stint would be more than justified.

Photo Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

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