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At this stage of his decorated career, Freddie Freeman remains unshaken by any challenge. Not even a return to Truist Park, where he once starred for the Atlanta Braves, could disrupt his focus in Game 3 of the National League Division Series on Tuesday.
Facing Chris Sale, the Braves' ace who had just tossed a complete-game shutout against the Dodgers in his previous outing, did not intimidate Freeman either. After Kike Hernandez gave Los Angeles a lead with a two-run blast in the top of the fourth, Freeman added a two-out solo homer off Sale to extend the advantage. The Dodgers ultimately secured a 3-1 victory and a 2-1 series lead.
While Freeman's regular-season OPS against left-handers (.680) was notably lower than against right-handers (.850) in 2026, the arrival of October transforms him into a different hitter. Regardless of the pitcher's handedness, he elevates his game when the stakes are highest.
In fact, Freeman now holds the major league record for most lefty-on-lefty home runs in playoff history with eight, according to MLB Network. Nearly half of his 18 career postseason long balls have come against same-handed pitching, underscoring his ability to lock in under the brightest lights.
Key Analysis
Hitting a home run in the postseason is difficult enough, but doing so against a pitcher of Sale's caliber is extraordinary. The Braves' left-hander limited left-handed batters to a .595 OPS over 39.2 innings this season, compared to .570 against right-handers. Yet Freeman's dominance in these situations highlights his invaluable role for the Dodgers come playoff time.
The 37-year-old is also heating up at the perfect moment, having homered in two consecutive games. After Game 2, Freeman emphasized the need for the Dodgers to score even without the long ball. But as long as this power surge continues, there is little reason to alter the approach.
Related: Dodgers' Miguel Rojas provides update on lower back injury, aims for NLDS Game 4 availability. Related: Freddie Freeman shares secret behind crucial win over Chris Sale despite score.
Originally reported by yahoo.