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Freddie Freeman #5 of the Los Angeles Dodgers runs to first base during a game against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park on June 11.
The Los Angeles Dodgers‘ injury bug finally caught up with one of their star position players.
Freddie Freeman, the National League leader in batting average, is battling through a tweaked quadriceps that he injured in the Dodgers’ 11-1 loss to the San Diego Padres on Tuesday.
Freeman is slashing .347/.417/.579 and is on the short list of contenders for National League MVP for the West-leading Dodgers. He did return to the field, playing his customary spot at first base for the finale of LA’s series against the Padres, going 1 for 4 with a run score in its 5-2 win Wednesday.
Will Freddie Freeman End Up On The IL?
Freeman’s return to the field bodes well, especially for the ultra-cautious Dodgers.
Still, it isn’t surprising that Freeman would try to grit through the injury, especially against a division rival that started play Wednesday just one game out for first place.
Plus, Los Angeles manager Dave Roberts, who said Freeman is “managing” the quad injury, seems more likely to sit Freeman instead of NL MVP favorite Shohei Ohtani, the team’s customary designated hitter.
Freeman is not much of a running threat most days anyway, since he does not have a stolen base this year in 59 games.
But Freeman is a smart baserunner, and this injury could affect his ability to take extra bases, especially while trying to turn singles into doubles — an important reason why he leads the NL in two-baggers with 21.
Roberts’ comment of Freeman managing the injury likely means he will be going less than full speed on the bases against the San Francisco Giants this weekend and until his ailment gets back to normal. LA may have great role players, but it does not have another primary first baseman on its roster.
Who Else On The Dodgers Is Injured?
If you’re a Dodgers fan, you surely can rattle off the robust number of injuries they are battling, especially on the pitching staff.
High-leverage relievers Evan Phillips, Blake Treinen and Brusdar Graterol each is on the IL, which has left LA stuck trying to trust Tanner Scott, even as he has gone through a horrific early-season slump.
But wait, there’s more. Four starting pitchers are on the IL, including reigning National League Cy Young winner Blake Snell and prized off-season pitching acquisition Roki Sasaki, along with hard-throwing rightiers Tony Gonsolin and Tyler Glasnow.
Clayton Kershaw may be back now, but he started the season on the injured list. Plus, Ohtani is supposed to be starting on the hill every sixth day for the Dodgers, if not for a torn UCL.
The Dodgers offense has been remarkably lucky with injuries, since each of their primary starters has at least 199 plate appearances through 69 games — even Michael Conforto who has been in an atrocious slump for the season’s first two-plus months.
Los Angeles leads baseball in team batting average (.265) and runs scored (381) and is second in MLB, and first in the NL, in homers (105).
Still, if Freeman can play he seems likely to continue to. He has only missed more than 15 games in a season once (2015) since breaking into the majors full time in 2011, and last season he gritted through a sprained ankle and strained rib cartilage and only missed three playoff games — and still earned World Series MVP honors.
Pat Pickens is an experienced sports writer and media personality who has written for outlets like NHL.com, the Associated Press, the New York Times and USA Today. He covers the NFL, NBA, NHL and NBA as a breaking news contributor at Heavy. More about Pat Pickens
