Dodgers' Roberts – Possible Freeman (ankle) sits out NLCS Game 6

NEW YORK – Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts left open the possibility of using Freddie Freeman for Game 6 of the National League Championship Series, saying “his swing wasn't right” because he suffered an ankle injury that left the First baseman has been hampered throughout the postseason.

The 35-year-old Freeman, who suffered a severe right ankle sprain on Sept. 26, returned to the Dodgers' lineup in Friday's Game 5 loss to the New York Mets after missing Game 4 of the series had. Freeman went 0 for 5 with two strikeouts in the cleanup spot, one spot below his typical third spot in the Los Angeles batting order.

“I’ll have a conversation with him (Saturday),” Roberts said. “But I think his swing is not right. I'm sure it's the ankle. We will have the conversation, but not having him for Game 6 is certainly an option.”

After recording two hits, scoring a run and driving in another in the Dodgers' Game 1 win, Freeman struggled. He has been 1 for 15 years and has not run. For the entire postseason, he hit .219/.242/.219 with seven singles, one walk, six strikeouts and no extra-base hits in 33 plate appearances.

When Freeman sat out Game 4, the Dodgers moved Max Muncy from third base to first base, Kiké Hernández from center field to third base, and played Andy Pages – who played in Friday's 12-6 series-clinching Dodgers loss brought back, hit a home run twice Los Angeles – in center field. Los Angeles still leads the best-of-seven series 3-2.

Freeman, an eight-time All-Star and former NL MVP, spends hours before every game getting treatment on his ankle. During his pregame practice at Citi Field on Friday, he grimaced as he tried to prepare the ankle for the game.

After settling on first base with runners on second and third base in the first inning, Freeman grounded out to first base, struck out looking, struck out swinging and flew out to center field.