The Padres hit six residence runs in what changed into a rout of a 10-2 victory in Sport 2 of their NLDS matchup with the Dodgers, knotting the sequence 1-1 because the scene shifts to San Diego for Video games 3 and 4 on Tuesday and Wednesday. Neither membership emerged from Sport 2 unscathed, nonetheless, as each Freddie Freeman (left ankle discomfort) and Xander Bogaerts (hamstring cramp) made early exits as a result of damage.
Freeman’s exit is the much less stunning of the 2, as the primary baseman’s makes an attempt to play by each a bone bruise and a sprain of his left ankle has change into one of many sequence’ chief storylines. After going 2-for-5 and even stealing a base within the Dodgers’ Sport 1 victory, Freeman went 0-for-2 tonight earlier than he was changed within the subject heading into the highest of the sixth. Freeman was due as much as the plate once more within the backside of the sixth and L.A. was trailing solely 3-1 after 5 innings, but he was clearly not feeling nicely sufficient to proceed enjoying. Submit-game, supervisor Dave Roberts instructed Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Occasions (X hyperlink) and different reporters that the group would know extra about Freeman’s standing after understanding tomorrow throughout the membership’s off-day.
Freeman suffered what was initially identified as simply an ankle sprain on September 26, within the Dodgers’ fourth-last recreation of the common season. X-rays had been unfavourable, however Freeman revealed to reporters that the mixture of the sprain and the bone bruise would usually sideline him for 4-to-6 weeks if this was the common season. Nevertheless, on simply eight full days of relaxation, Freeman returned to the sector in Sport 1, although it wasn’t clear till just some hours earlier than recreation time if the primary baseman would certainly be able to go.
Bogaerts seemingly suffered his damage whereas hitting a foul ball throughout his plate look within the eighth inning, but the shortstop seemingly seemed no worse for put on in hitting a solo homer. The Padres ended the body with a 7-1 lead, which maybe gave the membership a bit of extra flexibility to interchange Bogaerts within the subject with Tyler Wade within the high of the eighth.
Monday is an off-day within the sequence, so Freeman and Bogaerts will get some built-in time to recuperate earlier than play resumes. Whereas Bogaerts’ cramp doesn’t appear overly critical, Wade is the pure alternative at shortstop if Bogaerts isn’t prepared for Tuesday’s Sport 3. If Bogaerts can hit however not subject, the Padres can use Wade at shortstop, Luis Arraez at first base, and Bogaerts might conceivably act because the designated hitter.
Shohei Ohtani’s presence within the DH spot offers the Dodgers no such flexibility with Freeman, as he’d need to play first base if he’s to be a part of the group’s beginning lineup. If he can’t begin, Freeman would subsequently seemingly be restricted to pinch-hit responsibility, which then necessitates a bigger shuffle of the Dodgers’ lineup. Clearly shedding Freeman underneath any circumstance is dangerous information for Los Angeles, however shedding a key left-handed bat will hamper the Dodgers towards Sport 3 starter Michael King (a right-hander), and L.A. is missing in left-handed bench depth.
As a reminder, groups could make damage replacements to a sequence roster, however at a big longer-term price. Changed gamers wouldn’t solely be out for the remainder of the NLDS, however additionally they wouldn’t have the ability to take part within the NLCS if their group was to advance to the following spherical. This rule is definitely weighing on the Dodgers specifically as they work out Freeman’s standing, although it might appear as if Freeman must have critically re-aggravated his damage for L.A. to take away him from the roster altogether.
