Freddie Freeman’s status for Game 6 of NLCS revealed

Jun 25, 2022; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman (5) in the dugout before a game against the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

The Los Angeles Dodgers will be attempting to close out the NLCS on Sunday without one of their MVPs in the starting lineup.

The Dodgers announced on Sunday morning that first baseman Freddie Freeman is sitting for Sunday’s NLCS Game 6 against the New York Mets. The move comes as Freeman continues to play through an unpredictable ankle injury, requiring several hours of treatment before every game.

Max Muncy will be moving to first base for the Dodgers, and Chris Taylor is entering the starting lineup with Freeman on the bench.

The eight-time All-Star Freeman has appeared in four out of five games in this series against the Mets, but the ankle injury already kept him out of the lineup for Game 4 in New York. Also complicating matters is the presence of Shohei Ohtani, meaning that Freeman cannot DH and must play in the field if he is going to be out there.

Freeman’s absence in Game 6 might be more of a matchup-based move against Mets lefty Sean Manaea, and it is still very possible that Freeman could be available off the bench as a pinch-hitter. But for a Dodgers team that has already had to pull all kinds of lineup reshufflings due to injuries, this is just the latest challenge for them as they look to close out the series.