Los Angeles Dodgers star first baseman Freddie Freeman will not be in the starting lineup for the foreseeable future due to a hairline fracture in his right middle finger. The injury occurred on August 17 while fielding a ground ball during a game against the St. Louis Cardinals.
Initially, X-rays did not reveal any issues, but a follow-up CT scan showed the fracture. Despite this, Freeman has been playing through the injury, but manager Dave Roberts decided to give him an extra day off to allow the finger to heal.
Roberts stated that Freeman’s finger is fractured at the end of the middle finger and wants to avoid making the injury linger. Freeman has been struggling at the plate, going 3-for-23 in six games since the injury, and Roberts believes that the finger injury might be contributing to his struggles.
The Dodgers are not considering putting Freeman on the injured list, and he might be available to play off the bench. Kiké Hernández has been starting at first base in Freeman’s place. The team is taking a cautious approach to ensure Freeman’s injury doesn’t worsen, as they rely on him for his consistent hitting and defensive prowess.
Freeman’s absence comes at a crucial time, with the Dodgers facing a tough stretch of games against playoff contenders. The team will need to find ways to fill the void left by Freeman’s absence and hope for his speedy recovery.
