Freddie

Freeman

Freeman went without a dinger tonight, snapping his personal streak of consecutive World Series games with a homer at six (he homered in the final two games of the 2021 World Series with the Braves). He did, however, have a two-run single as part of the Dodgers’ fifth-inning comeback. He drove in 12 runs in the five games, tying Bobby Richardson’s World Series record.

When Freeman hit a two-run home run in the first inning, it looked like the Dodgers might sweep the series with Freeman being the easiest World Series MVP decision in history. Instead the Dodgers dropped Game 4 11-4 to the Yankees, though Freeman certainly still has the inside track on the World Series MVP if the Dodgers can close out the series. Freeman’s home run gave him the record for most consecutive games in the World Series with a home run with six.

Freeman, who struggled in the NLDS and NLCS while dealing with a sprained ankle, has now homered in his last five World Series games, having gone deep twice in the Braves’ championship in 2021. He’s totaled 13 homers in 60 career postseason games. The Dodgers will try to close out the World Series on Tuesday. They’re planning to ride the pen in Game 4, while the Yankees will start Luis Gil.

Freeman’s home run was his second of the World Series already. He turned around a fastball up and in from Carlos Rodon and sent it out deep to right field at 108.7 mph exit velocity. His solo shot traveled 401 feet. Considering Freeman had a walkoff grand slam in Game 1 and another home run in Game 2, he has to be the favorite to be the MVP of the World Series at this point.

What a game. Freeman certainly didn’t appear to be bothered by the ankle, and that was obviously early on when he was able to pick up a triple in the first inning after Alex Verdugo misplayed the baseball. A three-bagger is nice, but obviously what will be remembered was a two-out, bases-loaded homer off Nestor Cortes that secured a 1-0 lead in the Fall Classic for Los Angeles. Game 2 will be Saturday, with Carlos Rodon on the mound for New York and Yoshinobu on the bump for the Dodgers.

Freeman didn’t start Game 65 of the NLCS because of his sprained ankle, but there was little doubt about his availability tonight. The lineup against Gerrit Cole is essentially as expected: DH Shohei Ohtani, RF Mookie Betts, 1B Freeman, LF Teoscar Hernández, 3B Max Muncy, CF Enrique Hernández, C Will Smith, 2B Gavin Lux and SS Tommy Edman.

Good news for the Dodgers. Freeman sat out Game 6 of the NLCS as the Dodgers advanced to the World Series with Max Muncy playing first base. The Mets were throwing Sean Manaea in that game, though, so it was an easy call to bench Freeman, who is less than 100 percent, against a tough lefty. He should be out there against Yankees right-hander Gerrit Cole in Game 1 Friday.

We’re assuming Freeman was ready to give it a go, but since he’s not nearly 100 percent with his ankle troubling him, the smart play is sitting him with a tough lefty on the mound for the Mets in Sean Manaea. The lineup: DH Shohei Ohtani, RF Mookie Betts, LF Teoscar Hernández, SS Tommy Edman, 1B Max Muncy, 3B Enrique Hernández, CF Andy Pages, C Will Smith, 2B Chris Taylor.

Roberts seemed to insinuate that Freeman wouldn’t be able to go after Game 5, but backed off that statement Saturday. “As I sit here, I’m expecting him in there, he said. “But until he’s not -- if it’s costly for him or us we’ll certainly pivot.” For now, expect the 35-year-old to be in the lineup, but obviously it’s far from a guarantee.

Freeman had last night off to rest his ailing ankle. The Dodgers are again holding Gavin Lux out of the lineup against a left-hander, but he should be available off the bench once David Peterson exits. The lineup: DH Shohei Ohtani, RF Mookie Betts, LF Teoscar Hernández, 1B Freeman, SS Tommy Edman, 2B Enrique Hernández, 3B Max Muncy, C Will Smith, CF Andy Pages.