Why is Freddie Freeman not playing today? Dodgers star lands on paternity list

The Los Angeles Dodgers are set to face the Colorado Rockies on Sunday afternoon as they go for the series win after losing Saturday night's game.

But the Dodgers will be down a key player for this matchup, as Freddie Freeman isn't in the lineup for the Dodgers.

Why is Freeman not in the lineup? As the Dodgers announced Sunday morning, Freeman has hit the paternity list, being replaced on the MLB roster by Ryan Ward during Freeman's stint away from the team.

Freddie Freeman lands on paternity list for Dodgers

"The Dodgers recalled OF Ryan Ward and placed first baseman Freddie Freeman on the paternity list," the Dodgers announced.

Freeman, the future Hall of Fame first baseman, is going to miss a bit of time by hitting the paternity list this season.

He's out for the series finale against the Rockies, with the Dodgers turning to Ward as the team's interim first baseman with Freeman out.

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So far this season, Freeman is hitting .296 with 1.0 bWAR on the year with three homers, 24 hits, 14 RBIs, seven doubles, and an .878 OPS through 81 at-bats.

Ward has been tearing it up in the minors this season, hitting .324 with a 1.020 OPS in 68 at-bats so far in 2026. He has four homers and 14 RBIs, and will get a chance in the lineup right away as the Dodgers go for the series win on Sunday.

While Freeman is out of the lineup, it's for a heartwarming reason, as Freeman is landing on the paternity list, set to miss more than just this series finale against the Rockies.

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