Freddie Freeman isn’t interested in turning this postseason matchup into a personal soap opera.
The Dodgers and Braves are meeting in the playoffs for the sixth time in MLB history, and this one carries an obvious wrinkle: it’s Freeman’s first October series against Atlanta since he left for Los Angeles before the 2022 season. That makes for an easy storyline, but Freeman made it clear he’s not feeding it.
“I’m going to try and not treat it any differently, and nor should anybody else treat anything differently,’’ Freeman told USA TODAY Sports and MLB.com outside the Dodgers’ clubhouse. “I understand it will be a storyline.
I get it, but it is five years later. But I’m not going to try and look at it any differently.
It’s another team that I’m trying to get through to win another championship, and I know they’re thinking the same thing.
“It’s not the Los Angeles Freddies, you know? But I understand.
I get the storyline. And it’s an easy storyline.
So, I try not to think about it like that. Come game time, I don’t think anybody’s going to be worrying about it.
We could talk about it now, but by (Saturday), I don’t think anybody’s going to be worrying about who played for what team.”
That’s the right posture for Freeman, who spent 12 years with the Braves, made five All-Star teams, won the 2020 NL MVP and helped them win the 2021 World Series. Atlanta expected to keep him in free agency, but the sides never closed the gap because of a reported disagreement over a sixth year.
Freeman still has plenty of history there, and plenty of affection for the franchise. But he’s long since become a central piece of the Dodgers, and he’s already authored some of the biggest moments in their playoff run history.
Atlanta, meanwhile, moved on by bringing in Matt Olson, and the fit has worked. Olson has stepped into the pressure of replacing Freeman and earned strong praise from manager Walt Weiss.
“Matt had a lot on his plate when he first got here. He was replacing an icon,” Weiss began. “I think we got the only guy that could do it, the only guy that could step in that role at that time, and Matt’s been a superstar for us.
“Freddie, obviously, he’s a Hall of Famer. I still stay in touch with Freddie quite often.
It’s always good to see him, but tough facing him when he’s on the other side because he’s such a good player. Like I said, I think Matt’s the only guy that could have pulled this off to replace that guy.
He’s done it very well.”
In Other News...
Dodgers Face A Sudden Game 3 Booth Absence Fans Will Notice
Joe Davis will be missing from the FOX Sports booth for Game 3 of the NLDS after losing his voice, a noticeable shift for Dodgers fans used to hearing him on the call. Kenny Albert will handle play-by-play for the game, stepping into a spot that has belonged to Davis for years as the voice of Dodgers broadcasts since 2016 and FOXs lead postseason announcer since 2022.
The absence is being treated as day-to-day, so it is not expected to be a long-term issue, but it still leaves a brief interruption in a postseason routine that has become familiar on both the local and national stages. For a Dodgers team deep into October, even a broadcast change stands out, especially when it comes during a series where every detail feels amplified. [Read more 🡒]
Braves May Have Exposed A Costly Dodgers NLDS Problem
Miguel Rojas became another late-game concern for the Dodgers in Game 3 of the NLDS, leaving with low back pain after fouling a pitch in the eighth inning. The club confirmed the injury on its official social media, and the issue came after Rojas had already hurt his back earlier in the game while fielding a ground ball in the fifth inning.
For a Dodgers team trying to keep its October run on track, the timing could hardly be worse. Rojas has been part of the infield stability theyve leaned on, and if the back issue keeps him out any longer, Los Angeles may have to make a postseason roster move before the series moves on. [Read more 🡒]
Juan Soto Just Raised The Stakes For Dodgers Rookie Josue De Paula
Josue De Paula has moved from promising September call-up to a genuine postseason name to know for the Dodgers, earning a spot on the NLDS roster after impressing in 11 games. The top prospect has already shown why the organization is so high on him, bringing offensive upside and the kind of work ethic that tends to travel well once the games tighten in October.
Juan Sotos public praise only adds to the intrigue around De Paula, especially for a Dodgers club always balancing upside with reliability this time of year. The bat has given De Paula a real chance to matter, but his defense in the outfield remains the part of his game under the brightest scrutiny now that every inning carries extra weight. [Read more 🡒]