TOKYO — Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman was scratched from the lineup less than an hour before the team’s season-opening game against the Chicago Cubs in the Tokyo Dome.
No reason was given for Freeman’s absence. He was slated to hit third and play first base.
The reigning World Series MVP is coming off offseason surgery on the right ankle he played through during the Dodgers’ October run, which included removing a bone spur that was dangerously close to his Achilles tendon. But Freeman had played in both exhibition games in Tokyo against the Yomiuri Giants and Hanshin Tigers. He also hadn’t been limited in any way in spring action after making his Cactus League debut in late February. He was taking ground balls, as per usual on Tuesday afternoon.
Updated lineup:
Ohtani DH
Edman 2B
Hernández, T. RF
Smith C
Muncy 3B
Hernández, K. 1B
Conforto LF
Rojas SS
Pages CF https://t.co/z0EuNjYlwR— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) March 18, 2025
Freeman had said he was still going through extensive treatment on the ankle, ranging from 90 minutes before workouts to an hour after games. The 35-year-old also conceded there might be more of a conversation early in the season about him taking more days off in order to ease the burden on the ankle.
Kiké Hernández, who was originally slated to start in left field against Cubs left-hander Shota Imanaga, took Freeman’s place at first base. Teoscar Hernández moved up in the order to Freeman’s slot. Michael Conforto was then slotted in at left field.
The Dodgers are already without former MVP Mookie Betts for both games of this Tokyo Series due to an illness that wiped out the shortstop and caused him to drop nearly 15 pounds. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Tuesday that Betts has flown back to Los Angeles to continue to recuperate.
“It made the most sense for him to get back to a regular routine,” Roberts said of Betts. “That’s kind of where we’re at and we all support him.”
(Top photo: Masterpress / Getty Images)
