Shaikin: Freddie Freeman is hurting and the Dodgers need to keep him on the bench

Freddie Freeman shouldn't be playing right now. Doctors told him that his sprained ankle generally takes at least four weeks to heal. He's been playing with the ankle for two weeks now and the results are getting worse.

In the sixth inning of Friday's game, Freeman hit three fastballs that hit 97 mph. He tipped off a foul. He swung and missed the other two.

Can he still generate the power he needs to be productive at bat?

“I don’t know,” he said. “I haven’t had an extra base hit in a while.”

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He shouldn't get a chance on Sunday. One of the greatest batsmen of our time is currently struggling with his batting. With the Dodgers clinching a spot in the World Series on Sunday, Freeman should be on the bench.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts made no assurances that Freeman would remain in the lineup for Game 6 of the National League Championship Series. Roberts said he would discuss the issue with Freeman during practice Saturday at Dodger Stadium.

“I do think his swing is off,” Roberts said Friday. “I'm sure it's the ankle. We’ll have that conversation, but not having him for Game 6 is certainly an option, yes.”

Freeman wasn't kidding about the fact that he hadn't had an extra-base hit in a while. His last: a double 22 days ago, the day he injured his ankle.

He had four hits in 14 at-bats in the division series.

He had three hits in 18 at-bats in the championship series.

In Game 5 on Friday, he went hitless in five at-bats, stranding runners on second and third base in the first inning and loading the bases in the fourth inning.

He did not play in Game 4 and was removed in the eighth inning of Game 3 after Roberts said he could see Freeman's work.

With the addition of an unexpected source of energy on Friday, the Dodgers have a good enough patch for Sunday's lineup.

Rookie Andy Pages hit two home runs on Friday. He can stay in center field on Sunday as the New York Mets are scheduled to use left-hander Sean Manaea.

Kiké Hernández started at second base in Game 2 against Manaea. Chris Taylor started at second base in Game 4 against left-hander Jose Quintana and could start there against Manaea on Sunday.

That would allow the Dodgers to play Max Muncy at first base and Hernandez at third base, or vice versa.

The monotony of treating Freeman's ankle — hours every day — is no guarantee that healing will occur. The treatment prepares him as best as possible for playing.

It's not like the ankle feels much better or worse.

It's not like he couldn't do something this week that he was able to do last week. It's because he can't do what made him an eight-time All-Star.

It is what it is, as they say.

“It’s like running a 100-meter hurdles,” Freeman said. “I keep facing the same hurdle. I run straight into it every time.”

Read more: The Dodgers can't overcome Jack Flaherty's struggles in the NLCS Game 5 loss to the Mets

If the Dodgers bench Freeman on Sunday and win, they would have four days off before the start of the World Series. In total, that would give Freeman six days to focus on rest and treatment rather than forcing his injured ankle to support swing after swing.

That could be enough to get Freeman into the starting lineup for the World Series. Maybe not. But that's not working, and the Dodgers would be wise to recognize that.

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This story originally appeared in the Los Angeles Times.