Dodgers Face Lineup Shake-up as Freddie Freeman Sits Out with Knee Discomfort

Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts announced that first-baseman Freddie Freeman will not appear in the Wednesday night series finale against the Cincinnati Reds. The decision follows “right knee discomfort” that has persisted over the last few days. Roberts said the team is not moving Freeman to the injured list and that the player could receive up to three days of rest before re-evaluation.

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The Dodgers entered the Cincinnati series with a 10-game lead in the National League West and a winning streak of six games. With the postseason looming, the club has been managing the workloads of its marquee players. In addition to Freeman’s issue, two-way star Shohei Ohtani has been battling soreness in his left knee, right biceps and neck, prompting the team to limit his participation.

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Freeman entered the series as a proven middle-of-the-order presence. In his most recent stretch he was batting .299 with 16 home runs and 66 runs batted in, providing consistent power despite the Dodgers’ recent lineup shuffles.

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Roberts explained that the knee “has been bothering him” and that the team preferred to give Freeman a day of rest rather than rush a return. He also indicated that the Dodgers will monitor the situation before deciding on any injured-list move.

Newsweek

Pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto, slated to start for Los Angeles on Wednesday, emphasized the importance of run support for the upcoming game, noting, “With today’s game, they gave me run support, and then I wanted to keep the lead and do a better job.”

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Shohei Ohtani, who has been focusing on hitting after electing to stop pitching for the remainder of the season, confirmed his new role by stating, “Shohei Ohtani, through Will Ireton, said he is focusing on hitting for the rest of 2026.”

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• “The last few days, his right knee has been bothering him,” — Dave Roberts, dodgers manager

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• “With today's game, they gave me run support, and then I wanted to keep the lead and do a better job,” — Yoshinobu Yamamoto

Sports Illustrated

• “Shohei Ohtani, through Will Ireton, said he is focusing on hitting for the rest of 2026.” — MLBTR.com’s Mark Polishuk

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All sources agree that Freeman’s omission is due to right-knee discomfort; no outlet reported an injured-list placement or a different medical diagnosis. The team has not disclosed a projected return date beyond the possibility of a three-day rest.

Newsweek

The Dodgers have a scheduled off-day on Thursday before traveling to Miami for a weekend series. Manager Roberts is expected to reassess Freeman’s condition after the rest day and determine whether he will rejoin the lineup for the upcoming road games.

Newsweek