NEW YORK — Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman could barely walk in the NL Championship Series against the Mets. Yet, somehow, in the World Series against the Yankees, he’s turned into the guy who won an MVP award in 2020.
Freeman opened the game up in the first inning with a two-run home run off Yankees starter Clarke Schmidt. He’s hit a home run in all three World Series games, joining Barry Bonds (2002) and Hank Bauer (1958) as the only players to do so.
In three World Series games, Freeman’s 4-for-13 (.333), all extra-base hits, including a triple and three home runs, with seven RBIs. How has he been able to turn his postseason around?
”I think it’s just the six days before the series was huge,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “It kinda gave him a chance to get out of the woods. And so not that we’re out of the woods, I think it’s manageable and sustainable.”
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Including the off day after Game 5 NLCS and sitting out Game 6 of the NLCS, Freeman had a period of six days to rest his ankle before the World Series. It appears that’s all he needed to play a near-full strength.
In eight games between the NL Division Series and NLCS, Freeman was 7-for-32, a .219 batting average and slugging percentage. He managed just one walk, one run and an RBI between both series.
Freeman even sat out two games against the Mets in the NLCS, where he went 3-for-18 (.167 batting average). He was a noticeably diminished player then with a visible limp and struggling to run.
“I guess days off when you’re injured really do help,” Freeman said after the Dodgers’ 4-2 win over the Yankees. “But the reason is because I’ve been able to work on my swing. I got my ankle in a spot where I can work on my swing and I got it into a good spot, thankfully, entering this series.”
Freeman’s home streak extends beyond the three he’s hit against the Yankees. Dating back to 2021, Freeman has hit a home run in five consecutive World Series games, joining George Springer who did it for the Astros between 2017 and 2019.
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Manny Gómez may be reached at mgomez@njadvancemedia.com.
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