Freddie Freeman prides himself on his durability; the Dodgers first baseman has played all 162 games twice and 157 games or more six other times, an Iron Man mentality that has helped him overcome numerous injuries during his 15-year career.

But Freeman said he’s never endured an injury as serious as the right ankle sprain he’ll play in the National League Division Series with, and that’s saying a lot.

Freeman played the 2019 NLDS for the Atlanta Braves with an injured right elbow that required offseason surgery to remove two bone spurs. He hit .200 (four for 20) with one homer, one double and one RBI in a five-game loss to St. Louis.

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“They told me this is a four-to-six week (injury list), and I’m going to try to get this done and play within a week,” Freeman said during Friday’s practice. “I’m not going to hinder, I don’t think. There are certain plays, like slowing down and stuff. … I’ve never sprained an ankle, and they say your first ankle sprain is the worst.”

Freeman, who suffered the injury while trying to avoid a tag while hitting a grounder in the win over San Diego on September 26, was in the lineup for Saturday’s opener of the best-of-five-game NLDS against the Padres, but that was not a certainty.

Four hours before the first pitch, manager Dave Roberts said he remained hopeful that Freeman would start, but “maybe not as hopeful as I was (Friday),” with the team’s concerns centering on the possibility that Freeman could be compromised defensively come.

“I think there might be a little bit of hedging on the positioning side — how far into the hole can he play, potential bunt situation,” Roberts said. “I spoke to him (Saturday) morning. There was still some pain. We’re trying to balance the fact that he’s there against how effective he can be.”

The Dodgers had third baseman Max Muncy, who played first base in 2021, work out at first base during the bye week in case Freeman couldn’t play, and Muncy worked out there again Saturday afternoon.

But Freeman went through his normal pregame workout Saturday, taking grounders, throwing to second base and flipping to first base, running the bases and hitting into the cage, and declared himself fit to start.

“The swelling has gone down a lot, so I feel good, good enough,” Freeman said. “I’m sure you’ll be watching me, the slower part of the run will be (tough). But overall I felt much better (on Friday) than the last few days.”

Freeman, who hit .282 with an .854 on-base-plus-slugging percentage, 22 home runs, 35 doubles and 89 RBIs in 147 games this season, said the toughest move on the field is hitting the bag with his right foot will be while running the bases.

“If I can hit the bag with my left foot, maybe it wouldn’t be so bad,” Freeman said.

“But I think whatever is going to happen will happen in the match. I feel stable enough to hit. I tried to push off as hard as I could (with my right foot) to cover first base during those drills. And I felt good enough.”

Clayton Kershaw’s season is coming to an end

Roberts said the Dodgers are “closing the door” on the possibility of veteran left-hander Clayton Kershaw, who has been out since early September with a left big toe injury, returning to the field this season.

“Clayton has done everything he can to move this thing forward and give himself an opportunity to participate in the postseason,” Roberts said. “But where he is now, physically, the foot and the toe just aren’t cooperating. It’s actually getting worse.”

Kershaw, 36, missed the first four months of the season while recovering from shoulder surgery last November.

He was activated in late July and went 2-2 with a 4.50 ERA in seven starts.

Kershaw was able to complete several bullpen workouts in September – one in which he threw about 80 pitches – but never got to a point where he could compete against hitters.

“It got pretty mentally exhausting to keep trying to pitch; it kept hurting,” Kershaw said before Saturday’s game. “I had another MRI. I made it worse. So there is no point in continuing. It’s a shame. It’s super frustrating, but that’s what it really is. It doesn’t get better, so I can’t pitch.”

Kershaw said there is a possibility he will need surgery on his toe this offseason. “I haven’t confirmed anything yet,” he said, “but there is a chance.”

With 2,968 strikeouts over his 17-year career, Kershaw, whose one-year, $10 million contract includes a $5 million player option for next year, needs just 32 strikeouts to reach 3,000.

“He’s been one of the best pitchers in the game, an unquestionable Hall-of-Famer,” catcher Will Smith said. “It stinks that he can’t pitch for us, for the team and for him personally.”

Joe Kelly not on the playoff list

Reliever Joe Kelly suffered a shoulder injury last week during his final pitch of a simulated game and was left out of the team’s 26-man NLDS roster, which consists of 13 position players and 13 pitchers. Roberts said the veteran right-hander likely wouldn’t be available to pitch again unless the Dodgers reach the World Series.

Kelly, who missed two and a half months with shoulder inflammation, has the potential to dominate with his 98-mph sinker, 80-mph knuckle curve and 90-mph slider, but he was erratic during a season in which he went 1-1 with an ERA of 4.78 in 35 games, striking out 35, walking 16 and hitting five batters in 32 innings.

Kelly’s injury opened a roster spot for hard-throwing rookie reliever Edgardo Henriquez, who started the season at low-A Rancho Cucamonga and appeared in just three games after making his major league debut on September 24.

Reliever Michael Grove and reserve outfielder Andy Pages also made the roster, while reserve outfielder Kevin Kiermaier remained, leaving a bench that includes utility men Chris Taylor and Kiké Hernández and catcher Austin Barnes without left-handed bats.

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This story originally appeared in the Los Angeles Times.