Freddie Freeman Injury Update: All-Star 1B set to return to action against D-backs, per Dave Roberts
The LA Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has revealed that Freddie Freeman is set to return to the lineup against the Arizona Diamondbacks on August 30 (Friday). Freeman missed the team's previous series against the Baltimore Orioles due to lingering pain in his fractured right middle finger, which he injured during a fielding attempt in the Dodgers' game against the St. Louis Cardinals on August 17 (Saturday).
During the pre-game press conference, Roberts mentioned that Freeman is doing better, although the finger is still fractured. The manager expects him to start the series opener against the Diamondbacks on Friday.
"Freddie Freeman is better today. He told me that the finger is still broken, so that hasn't changed. My expectation is that he will play tomorrow and then we will see," Dave Roberts said.
Freeman has been in decent form throughout this season so far before he was sidelined last week with this injury. He played 122 games for the Dodgers this year, hitting .284 with an OPS of .857, 17 HRs and 73 RBIs.
Freddie Freeman talks about fractured finger
Freddie Freeman talked about the hairline fracture on his right middle finger that he suffered during the fielding attempt in the Cardinals game.
"I was a little nervous when my finger blew up like that," Freeman said (per OC Register). "It just started getting bigger and bigger, and as you guys know, when you jam something, it just kind of swells and gets tight. It was kind of hurting to throw, so best to get me out and get some ice on it and see how we do the next day.”
As we now get closer to the business end of the season, getting Freeman back before the start of the post-season would surely be a boost for the Dodgers who are currently leading the NL West division with a 80-54 record.
It became the first team to record 80 wins this season after its latest 6-3 victory against the Orioles on August 30.