Freeman (rib) is not in the lineup for the second game of the Tokyo Series against the Cubs on Wednesday.
A late scratch from the starting nine for the season opener, Freeman estimated his chances of playing in the series finale at 75 percent when speaking to the media after Tuesday's game. However, he will be held out of the lineup yet again. Freeman said the discomfort is in the same spot where he tore rib cartilage during the postseason last fall, and while he said the soreness is less severe this time, it's possible he could require addition testing once the Dodgers return home to Los Angeles.
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Dodgers' Will Smith: Reaches four times in opener
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Smith went 1-for-2 with an RBI and three walks in Tuesday's 4-1 win over the Cubs in Tokyo, Japan.
Smith batted cleanup in the Dodgers' season opener due to both Mookie Betts (illness) and Freddie Freeman (rib) sitting out. The backstop came through with a single to score a run in the fifth frame and walked in three of his other four plate appearances. Smith has consistently demonstrated a good eye at the plate during his career, as he's registered a walk rate over nine percent and a strikeout rate below 20 percent each of the past three campaigns.
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Dodgers' Clayton Kershaw: Shifted to 60-day IL
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The Dodgers transferred Kershaw (toe/knee) to the 60-day injured list Tuesday, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.
Kershaw was initially placed on the 15-day injured list prior to Game 1 of the Tokyo Series, which seemingly indicated that the veteran southpaw was ahead of schedule in his rehab from offseason surgeries on his left knee and left big toe. However, he has now moved to the 60-day IL, which opens up a roster spot for Matt Sauer and keeps Kershaw on his expected return timeline. The 36-year-old is now ineligible to return to Los Angeles until May 27, though he's hopeful to be fully healthy by then.
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Dodgers' Matt Sauer: Selected to active roster
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The Dodgers selected Sauer's contract from Triple-A Oklahoma City on Tuesday, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.
Sauer didn't perform that well during Cactus League play, giving up seven earned runs in 7.2 innings, but the Dodgers brought him to Japan nonetheless and have now added him to their active roster ahead of the second Tokyo Series game. With a 7.71 ERA in 14 career MLB appearances, the 26-year-old is likely to be used only in low-leverage situations, and there's a chance he heads back to Triple-A once the Dodgers' stateside schedule begins. To create roster space for Sauer, Justin Wrobleski was optioned to Oklahoma City, and Clayton Kershaw (toe) was transferred to the 60-day IL.
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Dodgers' Justin Wrobleski: Optioned to Triple-A
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The Dodgers optioned Wrobleski to Triple-A Oklahoma City on Tuesday, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.
Wrobleski didn't pitch in the first game of the Tokyo Series but excelled during spring training, allowing just two earned runs while striking out nine batters over 9.1 innings. He'll now end up as the odd man out of the Dodgers' active roster to make room for Matt Sauer, who was selected from Oklahoma City in a corresponding move.
Dodgers' Miguel Rojas: Fills in for Betts in opener
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Rojas started at shortstop and went 1-for-4 with a base hit in Tuesday's 4-1 win over the Cubs in Tokyo.
Rojas is expected to fill a utility role this season, but he was included in the Opening Day lineup as a replacement for Mookie Betts (illness), who was sent back to the United States after struggling to bounce back from a bout with flu-like symptoms, which caused him to drop around 15 pounds. According to David Brandt of the Associated Press, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Sunday that he plans to have Rojas start at shortstop in both games in Tokyo, so expect the 36-year-old to remain in the lineup Wednesday. The Dodgers are anticipating that Betts will be ready to play in their domestic season opener March 27 versus the Tigers.
Freeman (rib) estimated after Tuesday's 4-1 win over the Cubs that he has a "75 percent chance" of being ready to play in Wednesday's series finale in Tokyo, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports.
Freeman was a late scratch from Tuesday's lineup after feeling discomfort in his left ribcage during batting practice. The first baseman noted that the soreness is in the same spot where he tore rib cartilage during the postseason last fall, although he added that the current issue is less severe. While Freeman seems fairly optimistic about his chances of playing Wednesday, it would not be a surprise if the Dodgers exercised caution and elected to hold him out until next week's domestic opener.
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Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani: Scores twice Opening Day
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Ohtani went 2-for-5 with a double, two runs scored and a strikeout in Tuesday's 4-1 win over the Cubs in Tokyo.
The Japanese superstar was unable to deliver a home run in the first official game back in his home country, but he still produced as a leadoff man in the season opener. Ohtani recently slowed his pitching progression in order to ramp up his preparations as a hitter for Opening Day, but he's still expected to join the starting rotation sometime in May. For now, the 30-year-old will continue to serve as the Dodgers' designated hitter as he works his way back from November shoulder surgery.
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Dodgers' Tanner Scott: Secures first save of 2025
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Scott struck out one and didn't allow a baserunner in a scoreless ninth inning to record the save versus the Cubs in Tokyo on Tuesday.
After signing a four-year, $72 million contract with the Dodgers during the offseason, it's fitting that Scott received and converted the first save opportunity of 2025. The left-hander worked quickly against the heart of Chicago's lineup, throwing eight of 10 pitches for strikes. Scott is expected to be Los Angeles' lead option for the ninth inning, but he could still have some saves vultured since manager Dave Roberts also has Kirby Yates, Blake Treinen and, eventually, Michael Kopech (elbow) at his disposal.
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Dodgers' Yoshinobu Yamamoto: Notches win in Tokyo
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Yamamoto (1-0) earned the win Tuesday against the Cubs in Tokyo after giving up one run on three hits and one walk across five innings. He struck out four.
The 26-year-old induced 11 swinging strikes on just 72 pitches, with the only damage against him coming via an RBI double by Miguel Amaya during the second inning. The shortness of the outing isn't surprising since the Dodgers dealt with an abbreviated spring training, and Yamamoto should be built up to a full workload before long. The right-hander struggled against the Padres during his MLB debut in South Korea nearly a year ago, but he delivered a strong start to 2025 on Tuesday while pitching in his home country of Japan.
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Dodgers' Freddie Freeman: Scratched with left rib discomfort
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Freeman was scratched from the lineup for Tuesday's season opener against the Cubs in Tokyo due to left rib discomfort, David Vassegh of AM 570 LA Sports reports.
Vassegh notes that Freeman was on the field for batting practice prior to the game and suggests the first baseman might have felt discomfort during batting practice. The timing is brutal, but if there is a silver lining, it's that Freeman's removal from the lineup is not related to the ankle that required surgery in the offseason.
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Dodgers' Michael Conforto: Added to season-opening lineup
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Conforto will start in left field and bat seventh Tuesday against the Cubs in the first game of the Tokyo Series.
Conforto was initially slated to begin Tuesday's regular-season opener on the bench with a lefty (Shota Imanaga) on the mound for Chicago. However, Conforto will end up replacing Freddie Freeman, who has been scratched for undisclosed reasons, as Enrique Hernandez moves in from left field to cover first base.
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Dodgers' Freddie Freeman: Scratched from lineup
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Freeman has been scratched from the lineup for Tuesday's season opener against the Cubs in Tokyo, David Vassegh of AM 570 LA Sports reports.
The reason for Freeman's removal was not immediately available. He was brought along slowly in camp after undergoing right ankle surgery in December. Enrique Hernandez will move in to first base, opening up left field for Michael Conforto against left-hander Shota Imanaga.
Dodgers' Mookie Betts: Travels back to Los Angeles
Rotowire
Betts (illness) flew back to Los Angeles on Monday after he had previously made the trip with the Dodgers to Japan ahead of the club's two-game season-opening series versus the Cubs this week, David Vassegh of AM 570 LA Sports reports.
Manager Dave Roberts had suggested that a return to the States was in the cards for Betts after he was ruled out from playing in both games of the Tokyo Series while he recovers from flu-like symptoms. The hope is that Betts can rest up and get back to a regular routine in preparation for the Dodgers' domestic opener March 27 versus the Tigers.
Dodgers' Michael Conforto: On bench for regular-season opener
Rotowire
Conforto is not in the lineup for Tuesday's regular-season opener against the Cubs in Tokyo.
This was fully expected with lefty Shota Imanaga toeing the rubber for Chicago. The Cubs are starting another southpaw in Justin Steele on Wednesday and Conforto will likely be limited to pinch-hitter duties again during that contest. Nevertheless, he hit 20 homers in 130 games with the Giants last year and could provide enough power in his strong-side platoon role to be a useful fourth or fifth outfielder in fantasy this season.
