Dave Roberts said on September 12, 2026, that Freddie Freeman would rest the following day and return to the Los Angeles Dodgers lineup Tuesday as the team manages his recovery.
Roberts stated that Freeman had not been moving or hitting like himself during the previous week, saying, "the last week it's pretty obvious that he's not himself in the box." Roberts also noted that the Dodgers had won six of their previous 11 games.
Jose Depalo hit a three-run home run for the Los Angeles Dodgers, and Roberts described the performance as including a walk and nearly another extra-base hit: "Got a walk. So, had a perfect day." Roberts added, "I love the energy. I love the confidence," valuing Depalo's youthful enthusiasm on a veteran-heavy team. Roberts also mentioned that Taye and Tommy were kept off their feet for eight innings, while Depalo had played five or six defensive innings after reaching base several times across two hitless games.
Roberts explained that giving an opponent extra outs can determine a game's outcome, saying, "you give a team extra outs, that's what happens." He also said the Dodgers must balance winning games with keeping players healthy and evaluating roles, adding that "the most important thing is to win games." Dave Roberts manages the Los Angeles Dodgers, and he valued the youthful enthusiasm of Jose Depalo.
Roberts planned to rest Freddie Freeman and planned to return him to the lineup Tuesday. He said he would decide whether Rojos could contribute in the next series after an assessment by Rojos's trainer: "tomorrow kind of late morning, I'll get a text from him or the trainer... and then I'll make a decision."