Freddie Freeman Eyes Playoff Turnaround, Recalls 2024 World Series Heroics

Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman is looking to replicate his past playoff heroics as he navigates a late-season knee injury. Freeman is confident he can overcome his current ailment, drawing parallels to his performance two years ago when he battled through ankle and rib injuries to deliver a memorable World Series.

Freeman's 2024 postseason is etched in Dodgers lore, marked by his resilience through pain and a significant swing adjustment that led to a clutch walk-off grand slam in Game 1 of the World Series. This time, he believes a similar turnaround may be more straightforward, despite dealing with patellar tendonitis in his right knee during the regular season.

"I truly feel good right now, physically," Freeman said. "So it’s on me now to figure out the mechanics of the swing in the next five days. And I have all the confidence in myself that I will figure that out by [Game 1 on] Saturday."

At the beginning of September, Freeman appeared to be on an upward trajectory. He maintained a .300 batting average, a key preseason goal, and showed improved mobility at first base. Although he experienced a power drought, going 47 games between home runs, he remained a crucial part of the Dodgers' lineup. However, as the season entered its final stretch, his right knee began to cause pain.

Freeman attempted to downplay the injury, even after missing several games in mid-September. This slump raised questions about his postseason impact, especially with Shohei Ohtani also dealing with injuries. Manager Dave Roberts acknowledged the injury's effect, stating, "[The injury is] affecting him. So how can he sort of navigate being compromised?"

During September, Freeman struggled, going 12-for-72 (.167) in his final 18 games. His season-ending statistics included a .288 batting average and a .792 OPS, the lowest of his career for a full season, with only 16 home runs.

Freeman experimented with swing adjustments, aiming for more pull power, but he refused to solely blame his physical condition. "I’m not going to make an excuse. I will never blame my knee," he stated. "I didn’t play very well, and that’s just how it is. It’s on me now in the next five days to figure out my swing and be prepared for Saturday."

He expressed optimism about addressing his swing mechanics during the upcoming five-day break before the National League Division Series. Freeman plans to implement a "step-out" mental cue, which he used successfully in the 2024 World Series, to help recalibrate his mechanics and prevent his swing from cutting across the plate.

"I’m gonna try what I used in the World Series in ’24," Freeman said. "That’s the thought going in today, and I’m very confident that that’s gonna help get things back in line throughout the course of the week."

This approach proved effective two years prior, when a hampered Freeman, after a week of rest and mechanical adjustments, batted .300 with four home runs in the World Series, earning MVP honors. His current physical improvement and the bye week have fueled optimism that he can regain his top form for the postseason, a crucial factor for the Dodgers' offense alongside a similarly injury-plagued Shohei Ohtani.