AROUND THE HORN
Dodgers:
Freddie Freeman expected to be emotional during his anticipated return to Atlanta. He wasn’t prepared for the flood of feelings — and tears — that came before his first game back as a member of the Dodgers on Friday night. A rush of them forced him to walk out of his pregame news conference before it began. Freeman had to gather himself several times when discussing his continued love for the Braves and Atlanta. He then questioned how he would make it through the threegame series. “I don’t even know how I’m going to get through this weekend,” Freeman said. Receiving his 2021 World Series championship ring, presented by Braves manager Brian Snitker in a pregame ceremony, produced more emotions from Freeman. Following a tribute video to Freeman, he made a slow walk to the field to join Snitker, who stood beside the World Series trophy in front of the mound. Braves fans stood and cheered, some chanting “Freddie! Freddie!” Freeman answered by removing his cap and raising both arms to the fans. Freeman hugged Snitker twice, including once after putting on his ring. He grinned and gave the ring a kiss. Minutes later, Freeman held up his batting helmet to the fans following another ovation before his first-inning at-bat. Braves right-hander Ian Anderson walked Freeman, who later scored on a sacrifice fly by Justin Turner for a 2-0 lead. Freeman struck out in the second inning. Freeman hit a homer in his first reunion game, a 7-4 win over the Braves in Los Angeles on April 18. Freeman, the 2020 NL MVP, led the Braves to their first World Series title since 1995 last season. He was widely expected to re-sign with the Braves but instead signed a $162 million, six-year deal with the Dodgers after he was unable to reach an agreement with the Braves. After 15 years in the Braves’ organization, including 12 years with Atlanta, the 32-yearold has enjoyed a productive first half with the Dodgers. Blue Jays: Blue Jays hitting coach Guillermo Martínez was suspended for five games and fined by Major League Baseball on Friday for a confrontation with umpire Doug Eddings. Martínez was discplined by MLB senior vice president Michael Hill for making contact with Eddings and what MLB termed unsportmanlike conduct during the lineup cards exchange before Wednesday’s game against the White Sox. The 37-year-old Martínez began serving the suspension when the Blue Jays played at Milwaukee on Friday night. A former minor league infielder, Martínez was hired by the Blue Jays as a minor league coach in 2012 and joined the major league staff for the 2019 season.
Mets: Mets right-hander Max Scherzer will not be activated from the injured list and start the final game of the club’s series against the Marlins Sunday. “Nobody ever said he was,” Mets manager Buck Showalter said before the series opener Friday. “He was projected because of where he was. Talking to Max and talking to everybody he’s making the progress he should be. Not where he needs to be. He’s getting closer.”
Royals: Royals catcher Salvador Perez had surgery on his left thumb Friday and was placed on the 10-day injured list. The operation repaired the ulnar collateral ligament in his thumb, and he’s expected to need eight weeks to recover, manager Mike Matheny said.