The Los Angeles Dodgers head into a three-game set with the Washington Nationals looking to steady themselves after a stretch that has left them playing more like a middle-of-the-pack club than the World Series favorite many expected.
They avoided a sweep in St. Louis with a ninth-inning rally, yet the offense has been streaky even as the starting pitching remains a strength.
Manager Dave Roberts and the clubhouse have kept the mood even-keeled, reminding everyone that a late surge and a healthy roster can still produce October damage.
That context makes Friday night’s lineup announcement notable, as first baseman Freddie Freeman is getting the night off against the Nationals, via Underdog MLB.
Tommy Edman leads off in center, followed by Mookie Betts at shortstop, Teoscar Hernández in left, Will Smith behind the plate, Max Muncy at third, Miguel Rojas at second, Alex Call at designated hitter, Kyle Tucker in right, and Enrique Hernández filling in at first. Blake Snell takes the mound.
Freeman, who has hit .303 with 16 home runs and 66 RBI, is expected back Saturday provided nothing unexpected surfaces.
The rest day arrives as the Dodgers try to climb toward a top-two seed in the National League and avoid the wild-card round they navigated last year on the way to the World Series.
Health has been the quiet story of the final weeks. Shohei Ohtani sat Thursday amid lingering knee and biceps issues that have kept him off the mound since early July. He continues to hit, batting .279 with 30 homers, 80 RBIs and a .906 OPS, but the organization is treating his two-way workload with caution.
Washington sits outside the playoff picture, which should give Los Angeles a chance to stack wins against a more favorable remaining schedule.
The Dodgers understand the calendar is shrinking and that they need to play their best baseball heading into October if they want a realistic shot at a third consecutive title. Veteran presence throughout the roster is supposed to help them handle the pressure one game at a time.
Snell’s start tonight is the first test of that approach. A win would ease some of the recent frustration and give the lineup a lift before Freeman returns.
Whether the offense finally strings together consistent at-bats remains the larger question, but the club is treating the Nationals series as an opportunity rather than a trap.
The next few weeks will show whether the talent on paper can still translate into the kind of late-season run that has defined this group.
