Freddie Freeman Hits 100th Career Home Run as Dodgers Defeat Braves in High-Profile Series Freddie Freeman reached a career milestone on Friday night, hitting his 100th home run as a member of the Dodgers to help secure a 3-1 victory over the Braves at Dodger Stadium. The solo home run in the sixth inning provided an important insurance run for the Dodgers, who were looking to build momentum as they opened a high-profile series against an Atlanta team arriving in Los Angeles with a 26-12 record, tied with the Cubs for the best in MLB. Freeman’s milestone came against his former club, the Braves, whom he had played for during his first 12 seasons. With the home run off Chris Sale, he now has six home runs and a .977 OPS against the Braves since joining the Dodgers. Freeman described the swing that produced the home run as one he hadn’t executed in a month, emphasizing that his recent adjustments had paid off. “To put a swing like that … obviously, my work has been better the last few days,” he said. The mechanical tweak involved a foot turn in his stance during the previous series in Houston, which helped keep his hip closed and allowed the ball to travel deeper into the strike zone. Freeman noted that this change was a departure from his usual approach, which had focused on mental and external adjustments. “I've always done little tweaks mentally [and] externally. This time, I just did a foot turn. … I've thought sometimes, you got to think differently up in the box. And I went with a foot turn, and it's worked.” Manager Dave Roberts praised Freeman’s willingness to adapt, calling it a positive sign for the veteran’s growth. “It is good for me to see him kind of change some things,” Roberts said. “He’s a smart player and understanding that at some point in a career, you’ve got to make some adjustments.#freddie_freeman #dodgers #dodger_stadium #emmet_sheehan #braves
2026 Fantasy Baseball Velocity Declines: Early Season Dips a Bad Sign? The early 2026 MLB and fantasy baseball seasons have seen notable declines in pitcher velocity, raising questions about whether these dips signal long-term struggles or temporary adjustments. While some velocity drops are cause for concern, others are contextual, tied to role changes or mechanical shifts. Analysts emphasize the importance of examining underlying metrics and historical trends to determine if these declines are meaningful. Reid Detmers, returning to the rotation after a year in the Angels’ bullpen, has seen his fastball velocity drop nearly 2 mph from 2025 levels. His strikeout rate has also fallen to 9.77 K/9, and his ERA sits at 4.60, which appears troubling. However, context is key: Detmers’ role as a reliever last season meant he threw harder for shorter outings, while starters typically rely on consistency over longer stretches. His 94.2 mph fastball aligns with his 2023 and 2024 averages as a starter (94.3 and 94.1 mph), and his xERA in early 2026 is 2.50, significantly lower than the 4.00s range he faced in previous seasons. Detmers’ performance suggests his decline is largely a byproduct of his new role rather than a loss of skill. Other pitchers facing velocity dips include Reynaldo López, Emmet Sheehan, Steven Matz, and Sean Manaea. López, despite a sparkling 1.15 ERA early in the season, has seen his velocity drop to 94.4 mph, down a full mph from prior years. His Stuff+ grades are also declining, indicating diminished effectiveness. While his early ERA is impressive, analysts warn that his underlying metrics—such as a 5.00 walk rate and 8.00 K/9—suggest his performance may not be sustainable.#sean_manea #reid_detmers #reynaldo_lopez #emmet_sheehan #steven_matz
