The Los Angeles Dodgers are already managing Shohei Ohtani's workload, but now may do the same for Freddie Freeman down the stretch.
Freeman was not in Wednesday's lineup for the Dodgers. He was the designated hitter on Tuesday, and manager Dave Roberts revealed that his knee has been bothering him. At this point in the year, every player is dealing with something, but veteran players more often than not need more care at this point.
Freeman has played in 140 games this year and does not like missing games. However, the Dodgers have their sights set on a three-peat and need Freeman healthy for that. When asked if the team is considering an injured list stint for Freeman, Roberts was very clear.
"Absolutely not," Roberts told The Athletic's Fabian Ardaya.
Freeman has a .297 average with a .828 OPS this season. He has been one of the Dodgers' best players. His home run numbers are slightly down, but he is still a staple of their offense. It's very possible that the Dodgers take a similar approach with Freeman as they are with Ohtani.
Both players are far too valuable to risk losing for the postseason. The Dodgers' spot in the postseason is pretty much secure, and having their guys healthy outweighs any push for seeding.