LEADING OFF

A look at what’s happening around the majors on Friday:

READY FREDDIE: Freddie Freeman is sure to get a huge ovation when he returns to Truist Park for the first time since helping lead the Atlanta Braves to the World Series championship. Now with the Los Angeles Dodgers, the star first baseman and the NL West leaders open a weekend series at his former home.

Freeman was the longtime beloved face of the Braves franchise. After a dozen years in Atlanta, he became a free agent and signed a $162 million, six-year deal with the Dodgers.

At 32, he’s hitting .303 with eight home runs and 45 RBIs.

“I haven’t really thought about it yet,” he said Thursday. “Just looking forward to getting home and seeing my family. They’ve been in Atlanta for a couple days. … Tomorrow you can ask me those questions, and I’ll see what kind of emotions I have going on tomorrow.”

FANTASY FACEOFF: The last time Joc Pederson of the Giants and Tommy Pham of the Reds were on the field together, it didn’t go so good. That was three weeks ago in Cincinnati when Pham slapped Pederson in the face before a game because of a dispute over fantasy football. Pham was suspended for three games by Major League Baseball. The outfielders will see each other again when the Reds visit San Francisco for a weekend series.

“It’s an unfortunate incident, and I feel like we’ve moved past it,” Pederson said. Pederson added he’s had no contact with Pham since the incident.

Cincinnati has lost seven in a row.

TROUT’S CLOUTS: Mike Trout absolutely hammered the Mariners last weekend and now gets to face them again when the Los Angeles Angels host Seattle.

Trout is fresh from hitting five home runs in a five-game series at Seattle. He’s hit 52 homers in his career off the Mariners, matching Rafael Palmeiro for the most by anyone against them.