Dodgers Interview: Freeman Frustrated but Hopeful After Dodgers’ Loss to Nationals
"My swing is in Arizona."
LOS ANGELES — After another tough night at the plate for the top of the Dodgers’ order, Freddie Freeman didn’t hide his frustration. Following Saturday’s 7–3 loss to the Nationals—a game in which the trio of Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, and Freeman went a combined 1-for-12 with six strikeouts—Freeman met with reporters and gave an honest assessment of where things stand.
“I haven’t been very good for a while,” Freeman said plainly. “Just trying to figure it out.”
The former MVP has long been known for his steady presence in the lineup, but he’s been battling through an extended slump over the past six weeks. While others might chalk up a tough stretch to mechanical tweaks or bad luck, Freeman made it clear that he’s exhausted just about every avenue trying to get back to form.
“I’ve gone through every cue 16 times over again the last six weeks,” he said. “Just waiting for it to click.”
Though he managed what looked like a solid hit in the early innings, Freeman wasn’t quick to celebrate. “That wasn’t very good,” he admitted of the first-inning knock. “That was a push to left field that just happened to go somewhere.”
Asked about the challenge of facing Nationals starter Jake Irvin, Freeman acknowledged he wasn’t fully locked in on the opponent. “I’m so in my head about my swing right now, it’s hard to even think about what he was doing,” he said. “I saw fastballs, curveballs… chased some stuff below the zone. He threw enough pitches we didn’t hit.”
While Freeman took responsibility for his own performance, he also spoke to the broader struggles of the Dodgers’ top three hitters. “We’ve got a really good team top to bottom,” he said. “Obviously if we can get going at the top, it makes it a little tougher to pitch to our lineup. But it’s been a grind the last few weeks.”
Despite the frustration, Freeman emphasized that the belief hasn’t wavered.
“We all believe in ourselves,” he said. “It’s obviously a little frustrating, but we’ll get going.”
The good news? He’s not dealing with any lingering physical issues. “No aches, no pains,” he said. “Only ache and pain is the swing.”
That sense of humor, even in the middle of a difficult stretch, is part of what makes Freeman such a veteran presence in the clubhouse. He knows slumps happen, even to the game’s best. And while he’s not sugarcoating how long this one has lasted, he’s also not giving up on turning the corner.
“My swing’s still in Arizona, I think,” he quipped. “But I’ll keep grinding.”
And for a Dodgers team built on talent and trust in their core, that persistence—and honesty—is exactly what they need right now.
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