Alex Freeland’s September is shaping up as a proving ground, and the stakes go well beyond a short-term roster spot.
The Dodgers still have one notable question hanging over an otherwise loaded roster: second base. Tommy Edman might be the long-term answer there, but a recent September call-up has a real shot to push his way back into the conversation for the role beyond the 2026 season.
That player is Freeland, whom The Athletic’s Grant Brisbee highlighted as a name Dodgers fans should be watching closely this month. Brisbee pointed to the possibility that a strong finish could put Freeland back in the organization’s plans after he had briefly fallen out of them.
"Freeland has a month to make his case for the postseason roster, but he's also looking to put himself back in the organization's plans," Brisbee writes. "A few months ago, he was right there in the middle of them."
Freeland’s overall numbers this season haven’t helped his case. In 79 games, he has 46 hits, three homers, 19 RBIs, two stolen bases, 25 walks, 69 strikeouts, a .222 average and a .606 OPS in 207 at-bats.
His September return from the minors has been even quieter. In seven games and 15 plate appearances, he has one hit, three walks, two runs scored, no RBIs, no doubles, no triples, no homers and one strikeout, along with a .350 OPS.
Right now, it’s difficult to picture Freeland as a piece of the Dodgers’ long-term plans unless he catches fire in a hurry. He needs a turnaround this month to finish the 2026 season on a high note and give himself another path forward.
If that doesn’t happen, the likeliest outcome is a bench role in the organization. A trade is possible, but his last two seasons haven’t exactly created a market eager to pay up for him.
For Freeland, this final stretch is about more than just salvaging a month. His MLB future could be decided by how he closes the season, one that began with an Opening Day start for the 24-year-old infielder.
In Other News...
Rays Fans May Already Be Questioning This Trade Return
The Dodgers decision to move Jack Suwinski to Tampa Bay and bring back catcher Hunter Feduccia along with minor league right-hander Jacob Kmatz was always going to invite quick judgment from both fan bases. Feduccia has settled in as a backup catcher for Los Angeles, giving the club steady depth behind the plate, while Kmatz has already started to look like the kind of arm that can matter sooner rather than later if his Double-A progress keeps trending up.
For Rays fans, the early return is the sort that can stir second thoughts because Kmatz has not just been throwing well, he has also drawn attention for a promising pitch mix and a place among the more interesting arms in the Dodgers minor league system. The trade was framed as part of a broader exchange, but the longer Tampa Bay watches Kmatz develop, the more this one could become a test of patience on their side. [Read more 🡒]
Tarik Skubal Just Revealed A Dodgers Advantage Tigers Fans Know Too Well
Tarik Skubal has settled in quickly since landing with the Dodgers, giving the club another high-end arm as it pushes through a strong 2026 season. Max Muncy recently pointed out something that has long been part of the Tigers travel reality, noting that Detroits old team plane could not make a cross-country trip without stopping for fuel, a detail that says plenty about the gap between the two organizations.
The Dodgers, by contrast, now travel with two separate planes for players and staff on road trips, a setup that underscores how different life can be in Los Angeles. For Skubal, it is a small but telling reminder of what changed when he moved from Detroit to a contender with a far bigger operation around him. [Read more 🡒]
Dodgers Call-Up Buzz Just Took A Turn Fans May Not Expect
The Dodgers latest roster move says a lot about how they want to manage the grind behind the plate. With Dalton Rushing landing on the injured list, the club brought up catcher Eliezer Alfonzo Jr. from Oklahoma City, where numbers can be hard to read in the Pacific Coast Leagues hitter-friendly environment. Brandon Gomes pointed to roster flexibility and workload management for Will Smith as the bigger reasons for the decision, rather than using the opening to elevate outfielder James Tibbs III.
For Los Angeles, it is less about a splashy call-up and more about keeping options open around one of its most important everyday players. The club has made clear it values having multiple catchers available for strategic use, and Alfonzo fits that approach even if his minor league production has not yet carried over at the big league level. In a season where every day off matters, the Dodgers are choosing depth and protection over a more obvious offensive move. [Read more 🡒]