For all the teams, the regular season rarely goes exactly as planned. And the Los Angeles Dodgers were reminded of that yet again. Just when everything seemed to be falling into place, a familiar setback crept back in, again! A key player of their powerhouse lineup has been placed on the 10-day injured list due to a right ankle issue, further delaying his return to the lineup after an already disrupted start to the season. At the heart of it all? None other than first baseman Freddie Freeman.

Freeman’s right ankle was already a persistent concern when the Dodgers were entering the 2025 season. But when the season kicked off, the team was not overly concerned about his injury. But as it turns out, right before Monday night’s game against the Atlanta Braves, manager Dave Roberts revealed the “mishap”—he slipped in the shower at his home.

Although the Dodgers are yet to drop their corresponding roster move, for now, utility man Enrique Hernandez will be replacing Freeman. Well, it’s not ideal, but there is no shadow of doubt that the Dodgers can still win the matchups without Freeman. When he missed the Tokyo series, the Dodgers still managed to win 5-0 against the Chicago Cubs.

Fans, on the other hand, have been poking fun at Freeman’s shower mishap. As soon as this news broke, fans couldn’t help but share their lighthearted teasing. Some joked about his age, and others labeled it as “typical injury-prone behavior”.

Freeman was reportedly set to return to the lineup for the upcoming series against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. However, due to his IL designation, he won’t return until at least April 10, 2025. This means he will miss next week’s games against the Washington Nationals as well as the Dodgers’ White House visit during their trip to the nation’s capital.

For now, the Dodgers are focused on ensuring Freeman is ready for crucial moments

Two Powerhouses, One Series: Dodgers vs. Phillies Preview

Could it get any better? Two of MLB’s best, with stacked lineups and elite bullpens, are facing off this weekend. The Dodgers and Phillies are all set for the early-season showdown. The Dodgers have arrived in Philly for a much-anticipated three-game series at Citizens Bank Park. Let’s take a look at how things are looking hours before the first pitch.

The Dodgers stand at an undefeated 8-0. It’s a perfect start to the season by defending the World Series champion in the history of MLB. The recent walk-off home run by Shohei Ohtani sealed a phenomenal record for the Dodgers. With the first baseman, Freeman, sidelined, Hernández will be filling his shoes; however, Max Muncy could also be an option. Additionally, most eyes will be on Roki Sasaki as he continues adjusting to MLB dynamics.

Meanwhile, standing at 5-1 marks an unusually strong start for the Phillies. Manager Rob Thompson optimistically stated earlier this year, “We’ve got a really good rotation. We’ve got a really good lineup. We’ve got a really good bullpen.” Well, it’s fair given the fact that last year, both the Dodgers and Phillies topped the league—the Dodgers finished 98-64 while the Phillies were close behind at 95-67—and in 2025, they look no less dominant.

Three premium matches and two elite teams—it’ll definitely be historical and, well, fun too!