Dodgers omit Freddie Freeman from must-win Game 4 against Padres

SAN DIEGO – First baseman Freddie Freeman was left out of Game 4 as the Los Angeles Dodgers try to avoid elimination in their National League Division Series against the San Diego Padres.

Freeman was ejected for a pinch-runner in Game 3 on Tuesday after limping to first with a single in the eighth inning. He also left Game 2 on Sunday after five innings because of discomfort in his sprained right ankle.

The Dodgers made numerous changes to compensate for Freeman's absence. Max Muncy moved from third base to first, Enrique Hernandez moved from center field to third base and Chris Taylor started in center field.

Reliever Ryan Brasier started for the Dodgers, and manager Dave Roberts said Tuesday that the team would play a bullpen game.

Brasier was announced as the starter about four hours before first pitch at Petco Park. The right-hander appeared in relief in Games 1 and 2 at Dodger Stadium and secured a 7-5 win in the series opener.

He was 1-0 with a 3.54 ERA in 29 regular-season games, including four starts.

The Padres took a 2-1 lead in the best-of-five series with a 6-5 victory Tuesday night highlighted by Fernando Tatis Jr.'s towering two-run home run, his fourth of the postseason .

The Padres turned to right-hander Dylan Cease to get a short break. Cease started Game 1 on Saturday night and lasted just 3⅓ innings while giving up five runs and not factoring in the decision.

In the slugger's highly anticipated playoff debut for the Dodgers, Cease allowed Shohei Ohtani's game-winning three-run home run in the second inning. Ohtani is 2 for 11 with six strikeouts since that home run.

Cease had a 14-11 regular season record with a 3.74 ERA. He threw his first no-hitter on July 25 in a 3-0 win at Washington. He was acquired in a multiplayer trade with the Chicago White Sox during spring training.

Padres manager Mike Shildt said Yu Darvish would start Game 5 if the Dodgers extend the series. If the Padres win on Wednesday night, Darvish would start in Game 1 of the NL Championship Series against the Mets on Sunday.

“We would like to name Yu the Game 1 starter,” Shildt said.

The Dodgers defeated the Padres in the NLDS in the Texas playoff bubble in 2020. The Padres defeated the Dodgers 3-1 in the 2022 NLDS.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.