{
  "id": 7432133,
  "title": "Freddie Freeman's knee, Shohei Ohtani's bat and the Dodgers' October calculus",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/15/freddie-freemans-knee-shohei-ohtanis-bat-and-the-dodgers-october",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-15T00:40:14.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/freddie-freemans-knee-shohei-ohtanis-004014955.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Freddie Freeman missed the Los Angeles Dodgers' Monday night game against the Cincinnati Reds due to right knee discomfort. Manager Dave Roberts indicated that placing Freeman on the 10-day injured list, similar to what they did with Shohei Ohtani, is not being considered at this stage. Roberts stated, \"I don’t think (the rest) needs to be 10 days, but could it be more than one? That’s a fair question,\" adding that he must consult with the training staff before deciding. Despite Freeman's .293 batting average, he has struggled recently with nine strikeouts in his last 30 at-bats. The Dodgers, currently leading the NL West with a 90-59 record, aim to secure one of the top two seeds in the postseason, with Milwaukee holding the top mark. Ohtani, who has been on the 15-day injured list since September 8 due to right biceps inflammation, is scheduled to hit off a tee on Tuesday. Roberts noted that Ohtani has been engaging in rehabilitation workouts and treatments. The team's performance without Ohtani seemed to have a noticeable impact on the clubhouse, though not necessarily in a negative manner. However, reliever Edwin Díaz, who has allowed six earned runs over 3 1/3 innings in four rehab games with Triple-A Oklahoma City, remains a concern. Díaz is dealing with neck inflammation and control issues. While he will pitch again on Wednesday, Roberts hinted that Díaz might be excluded from the postseason roster, emphasizing the need for improvement.",
  "summary": "Freddie Freeman wasn't in the Los Angeles Dodgers lineup for Monday night's game against the Cincinnati Reds as he deals with right knee soreness. Roberts said he didn't think Freeman would have nagging problems with the knee during the postseason if the knee can be managed properly.",
  "key_points": [
    "Freddie Freeman out due to right knee discomfort",
    "Shohei Ohtani set to hit off a tee Tuesday",
    "Edwin Díaz dealing with neck inflammation and control issues"
  ],
  "editors_take": "The Dodgers' injury management strategy suggests they are prioritizing caution with key players, potentially influencing their postseason roster and strategy, particularly with regards to reliever Edwin Díaz's uncertain status.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Winnipeg Free Press",
        "title": "Freddie Freeman’s knee, Shohei Ohtani’s bat and the Dodgers’ October calculus",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/15/freddie-freemans-knee-shohei-ohtanis-bat-and-the-dodgers-october-7437049",
        "published": "2026-09-15T00:40:39.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}