Freddie Freeman not in Dodgers' Game 4 NLCS lineup vs. Mets

NEW YORK - All-Star first baseman Freddie Freeman is not in the Los Angeles Dodgers ' starting lineup for Game 4 of the National League Championship Series as he continues to nurse a lingering ankle injury.

Freeman has played in seven of the Dodgers' eight games this postseason after badly spraining his right ankle Sept. 26 against San Diego . Typically a power threat, he has seven hits - all singles - in 27 at-bats.

With left-hander Jose Quintana poised to start for the New York Mets , Los Angeles opted Thursday for a mostly right-handed lineup. Teoscar Hernandez will move into the No. 3 hole typically occupied by Freeman, and Kiké Hernández , who has played center field, will move to third base while Max Muncy shifts across the diamond to fill Freeman's spot at first.

The Dodgers lead the best-of-seven series 2-1 after an 8-0 victory in Game 3 on Wednesday night.

Freeman, a former MVP and eight-time All-Star, has undergone hours of treatment daily to prepare to play. He also missed Game 4 of Los Angeles' division series win against San Diego.

Freeman, 35, was not in the Dodgers' pregame lineup before Game 1 of the division series, either, but he was penciled into the lineup card just before game time and proceeded to get two hits.