Dodgers turn to Kiké Hernández at first as Freeman sidelined with neck stinger; Call also out with back pain
LOS ANGELES — Freddie Freeman will sit out Wednesday’s game against the Reds as he works through a neck stinger that has been bothering him for several days. Alex Call is also out of the lineup with a lower back issue.
“He’s got a neck stinger that kind of went to his shoulder on the right side,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Wednesday. “Just giving him a couple of days, with the off day tomorrow, and he’ll be back in there on Friday.”
Freeman had started the Dodgers’ last 48 games, with his previous day off coming June 29 in Kansas City. He’s coming off a strong stretch, homering twice on Sunday in San Diego and doubling in each of the first two games against the Reds. His seven home runs this August are his most in a single month since joining the Dodgers, as he’s hit .319/.379/.626 for the month.
Kiké Hernández starts at first base in place of Freeman on Wednesday. Call, a right-handed bat who would have started Sunday’s series finale against Cincinnati against left-hander Nick Lodolo, left Tuesday’s game with back trouble. Roberts said Call is dealing with sacroiliac joint discomfort and is listed as day-to-day. “It’s something he’s dealt with before. Played through worse, he said,” Roberts added, noting the decision to sit him was a precaution.
On the rehab front, reliever Michael Kopech and infielder/outfielder Hyeseong Kim are expected to be activated off the injured list next week when the Dodgers travel to Pittsburgh and Baltimore. That timeline comes after September 1, when active rosters expand from 26 to 28 players and from 13 to 14 pitchers.
Kopech, on the 60-day IL following right knee surgery to repair a torn meniscus, has pitched five rehab games for Triple-A Oklahoma City, the last four of them scoreless. “He’s trending in the right direction,” Roberts said.
Additional context and implications:
– Freeman’s absence provides Hernandez with an opportunity to contribute at first base, while keeping the rest of the lineup productive with Freeman available again soon.
– The back issue for Call is a reminder of how durability remains a factor for a veteran-heavy roster, reinforcing the team’s cautious handling of minor injuries in a crowded schedule.
– The Dodgers are navigating roster logistics ahead of September, hoping to bolster bullpen depth and positional versatility with anticipated returns from Kopech and Kim as well as expanded rosters.
Overall, Los Angeles is balancing rest for a key bat with the need to maintain offensive momentum, and the planned rest days could help Freeman recover fully without losing the recent production he’s shown this month. If Freeman can return by Friday as expected, the Dodgers will likely revert to their preferred lineup with him back at first and Call available as a backup option if needed.
Summary: Freeman’s neck stinger has him out for one game, with Hernández stepping in at first, while Call’s back issue adds a day-to-day obstacle for the Dodgers. Rehabs for Kopech and Kim continue, aligning with roster expansions next week to bolster the team as they push toward September. Positive outlooks hinge on Freeman’s quick recovery and the continued reinforcements from the injured list.