Freddie Freeman's Presence Deters Intentional Walks for Dodgers Teammate Ohtani

Freddie Freeman's formidable presence in the Los Angeles Dodgers' lineup is a key factor in Cincinnati Reds manager Terry Francona's decision not to intentionally walk Shohei Ohtani in their wild-card series. Francona expressed significant respect for Freeman and Mookie Betts, both former league MVPs batting second and third, stating on Wednesday, "You’re kidding, right? Have you heard of Mookie Betts or Freddie Freeman?" He emphasized that walking Ohtani with such dangerous hitters behind him would be "asking for trouble" and deemed it "a very poor decision."