Freddie Freeman says his ankle sprain is the worst injury he has ever tried to overcome

Freddie Freeman prides himself on his consistency. The Dodgers first baseman has played all 162 games twice and 157 games or more six more times, an iron man mentality that has helped him overcome numerous injuries over his 15-year career.

But Freeman said he has never dealt with an injury as serious as the right ankle sprain that he will play with in the National League Division Series, and that says a lot.

Freeman played the 2019 NLDS for the Atlanta Braves with a right elbow injury that required offseason surgery to remove two bone spurs. He hit .200 (four for 20) with a home run, a double and an RBI in a five-game loss to St. Louis.

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“They told me this is a four- to six-week stint (on the injured list) and I'm going to try to make it in a week and play,” Freeman said during practice Friday. “I won’t hinder myself, I don’t think. There are certain moves, like slowing down and stuff. … I’ve never sprained an ankle, and they say the first ankle sprain is the worst.”

Freeman, who suffered the injury while dodging a hit while fielding a grounder in the game-clinching division win over San Diego on Sept. 26, pitched in the opener of the best-of-five NLDS game against the Padres on Saturday in the lineup. but that wasn't a sure thing.

Four hours before first pitch, manager Dave Roberts said he remained confident Freeman would start but “maybe not as hopeful as I was (Friday),” with the team's concerns centered on the possibility that Freeman would be weakened defensively could.

“I think there might be a little bit of hedging on the positioning side — how far in the gap can he play, possible bunt situation,” Roberts said. “I spoke to him (Saturday morning). There was still some pain. We’re trying to assess whether he’s there and how effective he can be.”

The Dodgers had third baseman Max Muncy, who played first base in 2021, practice at first base during the bye week in case Freeman was unable to play, and Muncy practiced there again Saturday afternoon.

But Freeman went through his normal pregame workout Saturday, taking grounders, throwing to second base and flipping to first base, running the bases and hitting the cage, and he declared himself fit enough to start.

“The swelling has gone down a lot, so I feel good, pretty good,” Freeman said. “I'm sure you'll be watching me, the slower part of the running will be (hard). But overall I felt a lot better (on Friday) than I have in the last few days.”

Freeman, who posted a .282 batting average with an .854 on-base-plus-slugging percentage, 22 home runs, 35 doubles and 89 RBIs in 147 games this season, said the hardest move on the field is that will try to hit the ball with his right foot while passing the bases.

“If I could hit the bag with my left foot, maybe it wouldn’t be so bad,” Freeman said.

“But I think whatever happens will happen in the game. I feel stable enough to hit. I tried to push off as hard as possible (with my right foot) to cover first base during these drills. And I felt good enough.”

Clayton Kershaw's season is coming to an end

Roberts said the Dodgers are “closing the door” on veteran left-hander Clayton Kershaw, who has been out since early September with a left big toe injury, potentially returning to the field this season.

“Clayton did everything he could to move things forward and give himself a chance to compete in the postseason,” Roberts said. “But where he is right now, physically, the foot, the toe, is just not cooperating. It’s actually getting worse.”

Kershaw, 36, missed the first four months of the season while recovering from shoulder surgery last November.

He was activated in late July and went 2-2 with a 4.50 ERA in seven starts.

Kershaw was able to get through several bullpen workouts in September – one of which he threw about 80 pitches – but never got to the point where he could face hitters.

“It became pretty mentally taxing to keep trying to pitch — it hurt all the time,” Kershaw said before Saturday’s game. “I had another MRI done. I made it worse. So there's no point in continuing. It's unfortunate. It's super frustrating, but it really is. It’s not getting better, so I can’t pitch.”

Kershaw said there is a possibility he may need surgery on his toe in the offseason. “I haven’t solidified anything,” he said, “but there’s a chance.”

With 2,968 strikeouts in his 17-year career, Kershaw, whose one-year, $10 million contract includes a $5 million player option for next year, needs just 32 strikeouts to reach 3,000.

“He was one of the best pitchers in the game, a Hall of Famer, hands down,” said catcher Will Smith. “It stinks that he won’t be able to pitch for us, the team and him personally.”

Joe Kelly is not on the playoff squad

Reliever Joe Kelly suffered a shoulder injury on his final pitch of a simulated game last week and was left off the team's 26-man NLDS roster, which consists of 13 position players and 13 pitchers. Roberts said the veteran right-hander likely would no longer be available to pitch if the Dodgers don't reach the World Series.

Kelly, who missed two and a half months with shoulder inflammation, has the potential to dominate with his 98 mph sinker, 87 mph knuckle curve and 90 mph slider, but he has been erratic all season long He finished 1-1 with a 4.78 ERA in 35 games, 35 strikeouts, 16 walks and five hits in 32 innings.

Kelly's injury opened a roster spot for hard-throwing rookie reliever Edgardo Henriquez, who began the season with minor league team Rancho Cucamonga and played in just three games after making his major league debut on September 24.

Reliever Michael Grove and reserve outfielder Andy Pages were also on the roster, while reserve outfielder Kevin Kiermaier was omitted, leaving a bench with utility players Chris Taylor and Kiké Hernández and catcher Austin Barnes free of left-handed hitters.

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This story originally appeared in the Los Angeles Times.