When the Atlanta Braves are the opponent, nothing makes me more happy than seeing Freddie Freeman take a collar. Unfortunately, it doesn’t happen often.
Were you surprised Atlanta Braves first basemen Freddie Freeman erased a four run deficit with one swing of the bat in the game against the Washington Nationals yesterday?
I wasn’t.
Even with the fact Freeman is in his eleventh season with zero career grand slams to his name, I was not surprised. He is an absolute Nationals killer, and I am tired of seeing it.
Players are going to either have teams they love playing against, or stadiums where they hit better than others. When it comes at the expense of my favorite team though, I do not like it.
Over the course of his career Freeman has hit well against the Washington Nationals. A lifetime .323 hitter (including .319 at Nationals Park) he boasts 20 career home runs and 100 runs batted in during his time playing against the Nats.
Freeman has better numbers against other teams, he’s a professional hitter. However, against the Nationals it seems like every time the Braves need a big hit, or are coming from behind, Freeman is the guy at the plate. More times than not, he comes through.
Nationals pitchers just can’t get him out. Freeman has a hit in all four games the teams have played this year, giving him a .467 average.
Erick Fedde, tonight’s starter, has faced Freeman four times in his career. Freeman has reached base three times, scored two runs, and driven one in. Tomorrow’s starter, Patrick Corbin, held Freeman to a .143 average when he was pitching for the Arizona Diamondbacks. Since joining the Nationals rotation, Freeman has hit him better, at .375.
I don’t know what it is, though it feels like Freddie Freeman has the Nationals figured out, regardless of when they play, where they play, or who they throw against him.
Nothing would make me happier than seeing Freeman take an 0-fer tonight, with a hat trick and a GIDP.