Scratch Dodgers' Freeman from must-win G4

SAN DIEGO — First baseman Freddie Freeman was scratched from Game 4 as the Los Angeles Dodgers tried to avoid elimination in their National League Division Series against the San Diego Padres.

Freeman was lifted for a pinch-runner in Game 3 on Tuesday after leading off a single in the eighth inning. He left Game 2 on Sunday after five innings due to discomfort with a sprained right ankle.

The Dodgers made several changes to adjust for Freeman's absence. Max Muncie will move from third base to first base, Enrique Hernandez will move from center field to third base, and Chris Taylor will start in center field.

Reliever Ryan Brasier will start for the Dodgers on Wednesday night, with manager Dave Roberts saying Tuesday that the team will go with a bullpen game.

Brassier was announced as the starter about four hours before the first pitch at Petco Park on Wednesday. The right-handed pitched in relief in Games 1 and 2 at Dodger Stadium, earning a 7–5 victory in the series opener.

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

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

The Padres are turning to right-hander Dylan Seaz to start on short rest. Seaz started Game 1 Saturday night and lasted just 3⅓ innings while giving up five runs and a no-hitter in the decision.

Seize capped Shohei Ohtani's three-run homer in the second inning of the slugger's highly anticipated playoff debut for the Dodgers. Since that home run, Ohtani is 2-for-11 with six strikeouts.

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

Padres manager Mike Shields said Yu Darvish will start Game 5 if the Dodgers extend the series. If the Padres win Wednesday night, Darvish will start Game 1 of the NL Championship Series on Sunday.

“We want to name you the Game 1 starter,” Shields said.

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

The Associated Press contributed to this report.