Freeman (ankle) will start at first base and bat fourth Friday in Game 5 of the NLCS versus the Mets, Kirsten Watson of Spectrum SportsNet LA reports.

Freeman didn't play in Game 4, as the Dodgers didn't want him to play three days in a row on his injured right ankle. He will be back in there Friday however, as his team tries to finish off the Mets and advance to the World Series.

Freeman (ankle) said Thursday that he feels "really good" about his chances of being in the lineup Friday for Game 5 of the NLCS versus the Mets, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

The Dodgers elected to hold Freeman out of Game 4 on Thursday so that he didn't have to play back-to-back days as he deals with a painful right ankle injury. He was available off the bench however, and it sounds like he'll be back in there Friday as the Dodgers look to close out the series.

Freeman (ankle) is not in the lineup Thursday for Game 4 of the NLCS against the Mets, Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts had said previously that he expected Freeman -- who has been playing through discomfort in his right ankle -- to start every game during the NLCS. It's not clear yet whether Freeman has experienced a setback or if Roberts decided Game 4 was a good day to get the first baseman a little rest since the Mets are starting a lefty in Jose Quintana. Max Muncy is handling first base Thursday while Enrique Hernandez plays third.

Rizzo is not in the lineup Thursday for Game 3 of the ALCS in Cleveland.

Rizzo returned from two fractured fingers to reach base twice in each of the first two games of the series, but with southpaw Matthew Boyd on the hill for the Guardians in Game 3, the left-handed-hitting Rizzo will begin the contest on the bench. Jon Berti is starting at first base and batting sixth.

Arraez underwent surgery Wednesday to repair a torn ligament in his left thumb, Daniel Alvarez-Montes of ElExtraBase.com reports.

Arraez initially injured the thumb back in late June but played through the issue for the remainder of the season. The expectation is that he will be ready for the start of spring training. Arraez will be eligible for salary arbitration for the final time this offseason.

Rizzo fared well in Game 1 of the ALCS against the Guardians and is expected to be in the starting lineup Tuesday for Game 2, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.

Rizzo picked up a single and drew a walk in Monday's series opener, and skipper Aaron Boone noted after the game that he pulled the veteran first baseman after he seemed emotionally drained, per Hoch. Rizzo suffered two fractured fingers on his right hand during the penultimate game of the regular season. The training staff will likely check on Rizzo again Tuesday morning, but all signs point to him being back in the starting nine for Tuesday's clash.

Rizzo will start at first base and bat eighth Monday in Game 1 of the ALCS versus the Guardians.

Rizzo missed the ALDS after fracturing two fingers on his right hand when he was hit by a pitch in the penultimate game of the regular season. It's fair to assume he's operating at less than 100 percent given the incident occurred just over two weeks ago, but he's feeling well enough to give it a shot as the Yankees' regular first baseman.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Freeman (ankle) will be back in the lineup Monday for Game 2 of the NLCS versus the Mets, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.

Freeman was lifted from Game 1 after seven innings, but that was simply to get him off his feet for a few frames since the Dodgers were out to a 6-0 lead at the time. The veteran first baseman is battling through a painful right ankle sprain but is expected to continue to gut it out as long as he doesn't experience a setback. Freeman reached base three times, drove in a run and scored a run in the Dodgers' Game 1 victory Sunday.

Rice is not on the Yankees' roster for the ALCS versus the Guardians.

Rice didn't see any action during the ALDS. With Anthony Rizzo (fingers) being cleared to return, the rookie first baseman became an obvious option to lose his roster spot.

Rizzo (fingers) is on the Yankees' roster for the ALCS against the Guardians.

Rizzo suffered two fractured fingers on his right hand during the second-to-last game of the regular season, but he has been cleared for game action barely more than two weeks after the incident. The 35-year-old will regain his starting job at first base, shifting Oswaldo Cabrera and Jon Berti to bench roles.