Los Angeles Dodgers' Freddie Freeman (5) celebrates after his two-run home run against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the first inning of a spring training baseball game Thursday, March 2, 2023, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts expects Freddie Freeman and Miguel Rojas to be ready for the start of the National League Division Series on Saturday. If they can’t go, however, he has a plan.
With Freeman nursing a sprained ankle and Rojas dealing with a left adductor injury, both hope to be on the Dodgers’ roster when they face either the Atlanta Braves or San Diego Padres this weekend.
“I don’t see any reason both those guys don’t get in lineup,” Roberts said, according to Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times.
If they’re still not ready to go, Roberts said Max Muncy could be an option at first base. Muncy has primarily played third for the Dodgers this season and has only played two games at first since 2022. To get him sharp, Roberts said Muncy will work out at first base while the Dodgers have the week off. Enrique Hernandez would then move to third base.
Shortstop duties, meanwhile, would probably fall to Tommy Edman, who played short 18 times in his abbreviated 37-game regular season.
Regardless of whether Freeman and Rojas are in the lineup for Game 1, Roberts expects both back soon.
“I expect this is a more short-term thing,” he added.
Miguel Rojas has quietly been a valuable piece to the Dodgers’ infield
The Dodgers’ lineup has plenty of firepower, particularly behind Shohei Ohtani’s historic season and Mookie Betts’ return to play in mid-August. It’s all made Rojas’ contributions fly under the radar.
