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Dodgers sweep Royals 4-2 after Freeman injury scare

8/14/2026

43 10 Full Breakdown

Summary

Freeman Falls

Freddie Freeman fell down the Royals’ dugout steps while chasing a pop foul on August 12, 2026.
He stayed in the game for defense before being pinch-hit in the eighth.
Manager Dave Roberts said Dodgers dodged a bullet and no X-rays were needed.
The Dodgers held on to beat the Royals 4–2, completing a sweep.
Freeman, batting .306 with 15 homers and 57 RBIs, hoped to start the next series.

Summary

Dodgers Chase Seed

Dodgers entered Thursday’s series against Milwaukee one game behind the NL’s best record.
Roki Sasaki (2-0, 1.88 ERA) and Shane Drohan (6-4, 3.87 ERA) started for Los Angeles and Milwaukee respectively.
Both clubs are fighting for the NL No. 1 seed, a key test after the Dodgers’ recent eight-of-nine slump and the Brewers’ fall from the league lead following a San Diego sweep.

History

Historical Context

In September 1974 Dr. Frank Jobe performed the first ulnar-collateral-ligament reconstruction on Dodgers pitcher Tommy John, saving a career that had seemed over. The success birthed “Tommy John surgery,” now used on roughly one-third of MLB pitchers, shaping the Dodgers’ injury-resilience ethos that still guides decisions, as seen when 2026 star Freddie Freeman’s dugout tumble invoked the same medical confidence.

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Freeman Falls

Freddie Freeman fell down the Royals’ dugout steps while chasing a pop foul on August 12, 2026.
He stayed in the game for defense before being pinch-hit in the eighth.
Manager Dave Roberts said Dodgers dodged a bullet and no X-rays were needed.
The Dodgers held on to beat the Royals 4–2, completing a sweep.
Freeman, batting .306 with 15 homers and 57 RBIs, hoped to start the next series.

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