Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman (ankle) in everyday life after exiting Game 2

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Freddie Freeman left Game 2 of the National League Division Series after five innings with what the Los Angeles Dodgers described as lingering discomfort in his sprained right ankle.

“We had no choice,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said after Sunday’s 10-2 series-ending loss to the rival San Diego Padres. “He does everything he can. I don’t know what his status will be for Game 3, but we had no other option tonight.”

Freeman sprained his right ankle while trying to avoid a tackle on September 26 and spent eight days rehabilitating the injury in hopes of playing in the postseason. When he met with the media on Friday, he seemed confident he would be able to do so. But he said he woke up Saturday with unusual pain, leading many of his teammates to believe he wouldn’t be an option for Game 1.

Freeman ended up playing in Game 1, delivering two hits and even stealing a base.

The Dodgers put him back in the lineup for Game 2, with Roberts calling it a “much easier” decision because Freeman had a better sense of his abilities. But after two at-bats – a strikeout and a lineout to deep right field – Freeman was replaced at first base by Max Muncy and in the lineup by Enrique Hernandez, who took Muncy’s spot at third base.

The Dodgers will maintain this alignment if Freeman is unavailable at other times this series. Freeman will have an off day on Monday before the series moves to San Diego for Game 3 on Tuesday.

“That’s about where we’re at,” Roberts said. “It’s not ideal. It’s worrying. It happens every day and there is nothing we can do about it. So we’ll train tomorrow evening and then see how far he’s progressing with the treatment. And then.” Once we get to Tuesday, we’ll see how he feels and then we’ll do the same for Game 4.

“It’s not ideal here either. But I think we have to deal with that for the long term.”