Freddie Freeman’s fighting spirit is front and center in the Dodgers’ push toward the World Series. In a shocking lineup twist, Freeman nearly sat out against the Padres—his severely sprained ankle and some nagging side pain had him on the brink of missing this critical game. The alternate lineup had Teoscar Hernández batting third, Max Muncy shifting to first base, and Enrique Hernández holding down third. But Freeman wasn’t about to stay on the sidelines when the stakes were this high. With rest days under his belt, he’s back in the lineup, ready to make his mark.
Freeman’s had a rough ride this season, battling both on-field injuries and personal heartaches. Just a couple of months ago, he took time off to be with his 3-year-old son, Maximus, who was diagnosed with a rare neurological condition that left him paralyzed. Thankfully, Maximus is on the mend, even taking his first steps again. But the trials kept coming. Freeman broke his finger in August, missed more games, and then sprained his ankle trying to dodge a tag in a late-season game against the Padres. Through it all, his resilience has been unbreakable. And Mookie Betts, his teammate, had it right when he said, “People don’t know what Freddie goes through… we know how much he wants to win.”
Freeman is back just in time to help fuel the Dodgers’ playoff dreams. Friday’s game was all about changing history, and the Dodgers didn’t disappoint, clinching their spot in the NL Championship Series with a 2-0 win over the Padres. This marks the Dodgers’ first trip this far since 2021, and they’re hungry for more. Teoscar Hernández and Enrique Hernández blasted clutch homers to electrify the stadium, while Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s five shutout innings kept the Padres’ bats in check. The bullpen followed suit, with Blake Treinen, Michael Kopech, Alex Vesia, and Evan Phillips delivering five strikeouts and zero hits or walks—a true masterclass in relief pitching.
The Padres, who had fought back fiercely in Game 4, just couldn’t find their groove in the deciding game. While Luis Arraez and Kyle Higashioka managed to get on base, Padres star Fernando Tatís Jr. struggled, leaving their offense sputtering. Now, the Dodgers are charging ahead to face the Mets in the NLCS, their first appearance this far since that 2021 run.
With eight more wins to go for the championship, LA fans are rallying around their squad and Freeman, who’s more than a player—he’s the team’s heart and soul. Is Freddie Freeman the key to pushing the Dodgers all the way? Let the debate begin.
