Dodgers veteran gives team another injury-related headache to deal with down stretch

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Shohei Ohtani is not the only Dodgers star suddenly battling an injury.

First baseman Freddie Freeman is dealing with a right knee issue, manager Dave Roberts said, which was severe enough to keep him out of the team’s lineup for Wednesday’s series finale against the Reds.

Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman hits a single.

That marked the second time this homestand that Freeman was out of the Dodgers’ lineup and came on the heels of a rare start for the veteran slugger as designated hitter on Tuesday.

Roberts said there was no specific incident that led to Freeman’s knee problem, and that an injured list stint was not under consideration for the 36-year-old.

However, Roberts believes that Freeman’s injury contributed to his recent 1-for-18 slump at the plate, one that has dropped his season batting average under .300 for the first time since late July.

“Freddie does a really good job of hitting against his front side [in his swing],” Roberts said. “So when you can’t do that with your front side, your right knee, then you’re compromised. And I see there’s a lot more swing and miss the last few days that’s just not who he is.”

Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman reacts to being tagged out at first base.

Roberts didn’t set a date for when Freeman would return to the Dodgers’ lineup, wanting to exercise caution with the 10-time All-Star’s workload over the stretch run of the regular season.

The manager left open the possibility of Freeman returning to action for the team’s next game on Friday, when they begin a weeklong road trip starting in Miami.

But, “it’s also a possibility that we give him three days off to then get back,” Roberts said, “getting him ready optimally for the September run.”

For now, it’s just one more injury-related headache for the two-time defending champions to deal with.

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