How the Dodgers' Freddie Freeman went from injured uncertainty to World Series MVP favorite vs. the Yankees

New York — There were concerns about whether Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman would even be able to play in the 2024 World Series. He was hampered in the first round of the playoffs by a sprained left ankle and missed several games.

Not only is he now through Game 3 of the World Series playing on that ankle against the Yankees, but he stole the show. He's on track to win the World Series MVP, as — after his first-inning home run — Freeman has now homered in all three games, and the Dodgers have won them all.

Game 3 was a 4-2 Dodgers victory, meaning Freeman had the game-winning RBI in both Games 1 and 3.

Monday marked the fifth consecutive World Series game in which Freeman continued his streak from Games 5 and 6 for the 2021 World Series for the Braves. This tied him for the record with George Springer.

In World Series history, only three players have ever homered in Games 1, 2 and 3. Hank Bauer did it in 1958 for the Yankees and Barry Bonds in 2002 for the Giants. Add Freeman to the list there.

Remember, Freeman hasn't had an extra-base hit heading into the World Series since Sept. 26. He has not returned home since September 16! The way he looked in the last three games of the NLCS, it doesn't look like five days off will get him healthy in time for the Fall Classic.

Now he has made home run history. He even tripled in Game 1. It's been quite a turn.

The homers have also been dramatic. Obviously the Game 1 walk-off grand slam was the biggest blow and if the Dodgers win the World Series — a great bet right now with it 3-0 in the best-of-seven series — it will go down as the most famous home run in history. As one. The Game 2 blast came as part of back-to-back shots with Teoscar Hernandez after half an inning as the Yankees tied the game 1-1.

Here on Monday night in Game 3, Freeman's long ball gave the Dodgers a 2-0 lead before the Yankees even batted. It took the wind out of Yankee Stadium. The atmosphere never recovered, though obviously the Yankees' offensive futility contributed greatly to it.

Freeman seems to have a penchant for big moments in the playoffs. Of his 13 career home runs, eight led his team, tying him for third all-time behind Jose Altuve (10) and Albert Pujols (9).

He is, surprisingly, running away with the MVP. DraftKings' World Series MVP odds now have Freeman at -1400 and no one else close at +2000.

Freeman was so compromised in the first two rounds of the playoffs that it could be argued that the Dodgers would be better off without him. With Shohei Ohtani stepping in at DH, the Dodgers had to play Freeman in the field and he stuck around. He missed two NLCS games and was 1 for 15 in his last 15 at the plate. He was actively hurting them.

Now he is playing hero.

“Not surprised he's performing at this level,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said after Game 3. “He's been very good in the postseason throughout his career. I think just six days before this series was huge — or five days, I think it was — it gave him a chance to come out of the woods.

“So now that we're out of the woods, I think it's manageable, sustainable. Even going from first to third, he did a good job going from first to third. I don't think we cashed it in. Just I think that obviously. The swings he's taken, he can stay solid on his front end.”

Yes, he got a lot of swing in this series. Freeman homered in his first at-bat in Game 3 to put the Dodgers back on top. In just four days, he's gone from an injured player who probably shouldn't be in the lineup to a World Series MVP.