On Thursday, the Los Angeles Dodgers secured the National League West division title with a 7-2 victory over the San Diego Padres. This marks their third consecutive division title and the 10th in the last 11 seasons. However, the win was overshadowed by another significant injury, as first baseman Freddie Freeman sprained his ankle during the game.
Injuries have been a recurring issue for the Dodgers this season, often occurring during their most crucial moments. For instance, they lost Mookie Betts to a hand injury during a vital win against the Kansas City Royals in June, and Clayton Kershaw exited a comeback against the Arizona Diamondbacks due to a toe injury.
After the game, Freeman was seen in a walking boot, although X-rays were negative. His ankle was swollen, prompting the Dodgers to decide he would not travel for their final regular-season series against the Colorado Rockies.
The silver lining is that Freeman and the team are expected to be ready for the National League Division Series. “It’s like a grapefruit,” Freeman commented on his ankle swelling, expressing optimism about returning by Saturday for the playoffs. “I’ll do everything I possibly can to be ready,” he added.
Since clinching the division, the Dodgers will skip the wildcard round and begin postseason play on Saturday, Oct. 5, providing Freeman additional time to recover.
Freeman has faced challenges in the latter half of the 2024 season, including a finger injury that sidelined him for several games. His difficulties were compounded when he took a break from the team to support his son, Max, who was recovering from a severe case of Guillain-Barré syndrome. Fortunately, Max is now improving and has started walking again.
This season, Freeman has performed well, with a batting line of .282/.378/.476, 153 hits, 81 runs, 22 home runs, and 89 RBIs, earning him a spot in his eighth career MLB All-Star Game.
