Freddie Freeman says his ankle sprain is worst injury he’s ever tried to play through

Freddie Freeman prides himself on durability, the Dodgers first baseman having played all 162 games twice and 157 games or more six other times, an Iron Man mentality that has helped him play through numerous injuries throughout his 15-year career.

But Freeman said he has never fought through an injury as serious as the right-ankle sprain that he will play the National League Division Series with, and that’s saying a lot.

Freeman played the 2019 NLDS for the Atlanta Braves with an injured right elbow that required offseason surgery in which two bone spurs were removed. He hit .200 (four for 20) with one homer, one double and one RBI in a five-game loss to St. Louis.

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“They told me this is a four- to six-week [injured list] stint, and I’m going to try to do this in a week and play,” Freeman said during Friday’s workout. “I’m not going to be hindering, I don’t think. There are certain plays, like slowing down and stuff. … I’ve never sprained an ankle, and they say your first ankle sprain is the worst.”

Freeman, who suffered the injury trying to avoid a tag while running out a grounder in the Sept. 26 division-clinching win over San Diego, was in the lineup for Saturday’s opener of the best-of-five-game NLDS against the Padres, but that was no sure thing.

Four hours before the first pitch, manager Dave Roberts said he remained hopeful that Freeman would start, but “maybe not as hopeful as I was [Friday],” the team’s concerns centering around the possibility that Freeman might be compromised defensively.

“I think there might be a little bit of hedging on the positioning side — how far in the hole can he play, potential bunt situation,” Roberts said. “I talked to him [Saturday] morning. There was still some soreness. We’re trying to weigh him being in there against how effective he can be.”

The Dodgers had third baseman Max Muncy, who played first base in 2021, work out at first base during the bye week in case Freeman couldn’t play, and Muncy worked out again there Saturday afternoon.

But Freeman went through his normal pregame workout Saturday, taking grounders, throwing to second base and flipping to first base, running the bases and hitting in the cage, and he declared himself fit enough to start.

“The swelling has come down a lot, so I feel good, good enough,” Freeman said. “I’m sure you’ll be watching me, the slowing down part of running is going to be [tough]. But overall, I felt much better [on Friday] than I have the last couple of days.”

Freeman, who hit .282 with an .854 on-base-plus-slugging percentage, 22 home runs, 35 doubles and 89 RBIs in 147 games this season, said the toughest on-field movement will be hitting the bag with his right foot as he runs the bases.

“If I can hit the bag with my left foot, maybe [it wouldn’t be as bad],” Freeman said.

“But I think in the game, whatever is going to happen is going to happen. I feel stable enough to hit. I tried to push off as hard as I could [with my right foot] in covering first base in those drills. And I felt good enough.”

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, left, talks with pitcher Clayton Kershaw during a team workout at Dodger Stadium on Thursday.

(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Roberts said the Dodgers are “closing the door” on the possibility of veteran left-hander Clayton Kershaw, who has been out since early September because of a left-big toe injury, returning to pitch this season.

“Clayton has done everything he can to keep this thing moving forward and giving himself a chance to participate in the postseason,” Roberts said. “But where he’s at right now, physically, the foot, the toe is just not cooperating. It’s actually getting worse.”

Kershaw, 36, missed the first four months of the season while recovering from last November’s shoulder surgery.

He was activated in late July and went 2-2 with a 4.50 ERA in seven starts.

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Kershaw was able to complete several bullpen workouts — one in which he threw about 80 pitches — in September but never progressed to a point where he could face hitters.

“It was getting pretty mentally exhausting to continue to try to pitch — it kept hurting,” Kershaw said before Saturday’s game. “I got another MRI. I made it worse. So there’s no point to keep going. It’s unfortunate. It’s super frustrating, but that’s really it. It’s not getting better, so I can’t pitch.”

Kershaw said there is a possibility he may need surgery on the toe during the offseason. “I haven’t solidified anything,” he said, “but there’s a chance.”

WIth 2,968 strikeouts over his 17-year career, Kershaw, whose one-year, $10-million contract includes a $5-million player option for next year, needs only 32 strikeouts to reach 3,000.

“He’s been one of the best pitchers in the game, a no-doubt Hall-of-Famer,” catcher Will Smith said. “It stinks he’s not going to be able to pitch for us, for the team and him personally.”

Dodgers reliever Joe Kelly delivers against the Seattle Mariners on August 20.

(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

Reliever Joe Kelly suffered a shoulder injury in his last pitch of a simulated game last week and was left off of the team’s 26-man NLDS roster, which consists of 13 position players and 13 pitchers. Roberts said the veteran right-hander probably wouldn’t be available to pitch again unless the Dodgers reach the World Series.

Kelly, who missed 2½ months because of shoulder inflammation, has the potential to dominate with his 98-mph sinker, 87-mph knuckle-curve and 90-mph slider, but he was erratic throughout a season in which he went 1-1 with a 4.78 ERA in 35 games, striking out 35, walking 16 and hitting five batters in 32 innings.

Kelly’s injury opened a roster spot for hard-throwing rookie reliever Edgardo Henriquez, who began the season at low-A Rancho Cucamonga and pitched in only three games after making his major league debut Sept. 24.

Reliever Michael Grove and reserve outfielder Andy Pages also made the roster, while reserve outfielder Kevin Kiermaier was left off, leaving a bench that includes utility men Chris Taylor and Kiké Hernández and catcher Austin Barnes with no left-handed bats.