RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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See the full story · 2 sourcesThe Los Angeles Dodgers and Freddie Freeman are both optimistic the 10-time All-Star avoided a serious injury in the fifth inning of Wednesday's 7-6 loss to the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field.
Freeman took a 91-mph fastball to the hand at the plate on the first pitch from Shota Imanaga. He took a second to grimace in pain, but finished his at-bat two pitches later with a flyout to center field before being subbed out defensively by Kiké Hernández for the home half of the inning.
"We had to get Freddie out of the game," manager Dave Roberts told reporters. "He got hit in the hand, but fortunately X-rays were negative. So, that was another positive."
Freeman echoed his manager's optimism and told reporters he expects to be in the lineup for the Dodgers' series opener against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday.
"That's what I get for swinging at a ball at my face," he said, according to The Athletic's Fabian Ardaya.
Freddie Freeman said he expects to be in the lineup on Friday. His hand got jammed between the ball and the bat on this pitch he fouled off. "That's what I get for swinging at a ball at my face," he said. https://t.co/RkIhNb2290 pic.twitter.com/FJeMkqhEjE
— Fabian Ardaya (@FabianArdaya) August 5, 2026 Losing Freeman for any period of time, let alone an extended one if he would've broken his hand, would have been a major blow to a slumping Dodgers team that has been swept in two consecutive series amidst a season-worst six-game skid. In 112 games this season, Freeman has posted the National League's third best batting average (.310) and a top 10 OBP (.385) and OPS (.870). The 36-year-old is on track for his best individual season in the last three years, no longer hampered by a nagging ankle injury that forced him to miss time at the end of the 2024 regular season and that he re-aggravated early in 2025.
Even with the team's overall rough stretch, Freeman has continued to swing the bat well. He finished off July with a 3-for-4 night with an RBI and he's slashed .412/.444/.412 through the first five games of August. The rest of the lineup showed signs of life with a late rally at Wrigley Field on Wednesday and while it wasn't enough to get the win, it was an encouraging sight for Roberts.
"I liked the fight," Roberts told reporters. "It sucks to lose. It absolutely does, but we're going to win again."
That'll be a lot easier with Freeman in the lineup.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Freddie Freeman injury update: Dodgers star expects to play next game after scare
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