Beware of the Phillie killer: Freddie Freeman could play crucial role for Dodgers

No one on the Los Angeles Dodgers is more familiar with their NLDS opponent, the Philadelphia Phillies, than first baseman Freddie Freeman. 

The nine-time All-Star spent the first 12 seasons of his career with the Atlanta Braves, one of the Phillies' National League East rivals. In 216 career games against Philadelphia, Freeman has slashed .294/.393/.492 with 47 doubles, 34 home runs, 134 RBI and 120 walks. He has a .842 OPS at Citizens Bank Park, with half of his homers and RBI coming in Philadelphia.

This bodes well for the Dodgers, who will open the series against the Phillies in Philadelphia on Saturday. That said, they're just 4-8 at Citizens Bank Park since 2022.

Still, the Phillies and the rest of the NL East were relieved when Freeman signed with Los Angeles in March 2022, and they didn't have to see him as often.

Freddie Freeman still putting up MVP-caliber numbers

That said, on a team with former MVPs Shohei Ohtani and Mookie Betts, Freeman, a 2020 MVP himself, has somewhat taken a backseat. He's no longer the star of the show, but he's still one of the most talented hitters in the game. He's batted .310 alongside a .907 OPS across four seasons with the Dodgers.

Freeman was third behind Phillies shortstop and former teammate Trea Turner (.301) for the NL batting title in 2025, with a .295 average in 147 games. The 36-year-old also has an .837 OPS in 22 postseason games with Los Angeles since 2022, including a walk-off grand slam in Game 1 of the 2024 World Series against the New York Yankees.

A first-inning home run in Game 4 of that World Series made Freeman the first player in MLB history to homer in six consecutive Fall Classic games, dating back to 2021 with the Braves. 

It may seem a bit silly to say Freeman that last year's World Series MVP could be an X-factor for the Dodgers against a talented and experienced Phillies team. However, manager Dave Roberts must use Freeman and his "Phillie killer" instincts to the best of his abilities in the NLDS. He could be the difference between advancing to the NLCS or going home.