LOS ANGELES — First baseman Freddie Freeman is eager to continue contributing to the Los Angeles Dodgers’ journey through the postseason.

In Game 1 of the National League Championship Series against the New York Mets on Sunday, Freeman’s ankle was put to the test early on. He scored, thanks to Max Muncy’s hit, giving the Dodgers a 2-0 lead in the first inning.

The veteran player experienced visible discomfort as he limped from second base, wincing before he reached home plate and was caught by teammate Mookie Betts, who also crossed the plate on the same hit.

“I think everyone would be surprised if they saw what he endured and how well he is performing out here,” Betts shared with FOX in a postgame chat.

“I’m acclimating to it,” Freeman told reporters. “I know what to expect every day. Clearly, it’s not going to improve, but I feel like I’m in a decent place now where it won’t get any worse unless I twist it again.”

Freeman’s outing concluded after seven innings, during which he hit a single in the fourth that allowed Shohei Ohtani to score, extending the Dodgers’ lead to 6-0.

“I felt confident about bringing him out after seven innings to give his legs a bit of a rest,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts remarked.

When did Freddie Freeman sustain his ankle injury?

Freeman sprained his right ankle while playing against the San Diego Padres on September 26. He missed a few games due to the injury.

Freeman did not participate in the Dodgers’ last regular-season series against the Colorado Rockies but returned for the National League Division Series against the Padres the following week.

Will Freddie Freeman play in NLCS Game 2 for the Dodgers?

Roberts was unable to speak with Freeman right after Game 1 but mentioned that he has no reasons to think the first baseman would be unavailable for the upcoming game.

Freeman will be a game-time decision, given the short turnaround for Game 2, which starts at 4:08 p.m. ET (1:08 p.m. local time). He is currently wearing tape over his cleat to minimize the risk of re-injuring his ankle.

“I’ll know in the morning whether I can play,” Freeman informed reporters post-game. “We have a solid plan. The prep takes me about four and a half hours, so I might just end up staying here tonight.”