Dodgers' Freddie Freeman (ankle) likely back for NLDS opener

Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman was asked Friday whether his ailing right ankle would allow him to play in the National League Division Series opener on Saturday against the San Diego Padres.

"I feel good," Freeman said before clarifying. "Good enough."

Freeman got hurt the last time the Dodgers and Padres met, on Sept. 26 in Los Angeles, and he sat out the final three games of the regular season.

He is likely to return to action when the teams open the best-of-five NLDS on Saturday in Los Angeles.

"I'm expecting him to be in the lineup," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. "What that looks like, I guess we'll know when we see him out there. But with Freddie, I don't doubt that he'll be ready to go."

Freeman said of the ailment, which occurred when his foot landed awkwardly as he tried to avoid a tag at first base on a grounder, "They say your first sprained ankle is the worst. But they said this is four to six weeks (I would be out). But I'm going to do it in a week."

In the regular season, Freeman hit .282 with a .378 on-base percentage, .476 slugging percentage, 22 homers and 89 RBIs in 147 games. Many of the numbers represented drop-offs from those he posted every full season since 2016, though he did earn his eighth All-Star team selection this year.

Freeman, 35, was the 2020 NL Most Valuable Player with the Braves, a year before he led Atlanta to a World Series championship. In 15 major league seasons with the Braves (2010-21) and the Dodgers (2022-24), Freeman has a career .300/.387/.512 batting line with 343 homers and 1,232 RBIs (tops among active players) in 2,032 games.