Freddie

Freeman

Freeman collected the 2,500th hit of his career with a run-scoring single to center field, doing so during the Dodgers’ 10-run seventh inning in which 15 batters came to the plate. The 36-year-old first baseman is the majors’ active leader in hits and the first to reach the milestone since Robinson Canó in 2019. He’s in the middle of an extended hot streak at the dish, batting .345 (20-for-58) with four homers and 13 RBI over his last 15 games.

Both the Dodgers and Angels were shut out through eight innings of a pitcher’s duel at Dodger Stadium on Friday. Freeman had drawn a walk and had one hit before stepping in to bat in the bottom of the ninth, leading off against Kirby Yates. The 36-year-old first baseman delivered with a solo blast to center field to walk it off with his tenth home run of the season.

Freeman gave the Dodgers an early lead with a two-run homer off Mike Soroka in the first inning. He later singled in the fifth. The 36-year-old first baseman enjoyed an excellent month of May, hitting .287 with five homers. Tuesday’s blast was his ninth of the season while hitting .274/.360/.475 with 30 runs scored and 32 RBI across 253 plate appearances.

Freeman doubled the Dodgers’ lead to 2-0 with a solo homer off Tomoyuki Sugano in the first inning; one batter after Shohei Ohtani clobbered a solo shot to begin the game. He also singled to bump his slash to .271/.368/.462. That’s far from an unplayable slash, but a smidgen disappointing just because Freeman has been so much better than that line over his career.

It’s the third time in his career that Freeman has walked four times. Oddly enough, he also had a hit all three times. On July 27, 2019, he had the same line against the Phillies that he did tonight: a double, four walks and three runs scored. On June 17, 2024, he had a single and five walks, one of which was intentional, against the Rockies. Freeman is batting .265/.362/.449 in 213 plate appearances. His double tonight was the 561st of his career, moving him past Jeff Kent and Eddie Murray for sole possession of 30th place on the all-time list. Next up is Carlos Beltran at 565.

Freeman got the scoring started right away, taking Griffin Canning deep for a two-run blast in the first inning. He went yard again in the sixth, leading off with a solo blast of Jeremiah Estrada to tie the game. The 36-year-old first baseman is up to six homers and 23 RBI while slashing .260/.342/.435 across 199 plate appearances.

It’s nothing more than a routine night off for the 36-year-old slugger. Dalton Rushing will start in his place at first base and will bat eighth for the Dodgers against Angels’ right-hander Jack Kochanowicz.

Freeman improved to 5-for-15 with three homers and two doubles off Sale in his career, which is awfully impressive for a left-handed hitter. The only other lefty with three career homers against Sale is Eric Hosmer, and he had 52 at-bats to get there. Freeman had been without a homer since Apr. 6. He’s at .278/.342/.444 for the season, and he still figures to pick it up from here.

Freeman extended the Dodgers’ lead with a base hit in the fifth to drive in a run. He later hit a ground-rule double in the ninth. The 36-year-old first baseman is on a 22-game home run drought, with his last round-tripper coming on April 6. Though strong barrel and hard-hit rates suggest this may be a buy-low opportunity. Freeman is hitting .271/.333/.419 with 12 runs scored and 16 RBI across 141 plate appearances.

It’s not every day you see a player make seven outs in a nine-inning game. It’s the third time in his career that Freeman has grounded into two double plays. He’s currently in a 6-for-35 slump that has dropped his OPS from .878 to .742.