NEW YORK – All-Star first baseman Freddie Freeman is not in the Los Angeles Dodgers’ starting lineup for Game 4 of the National League Championship Series as he continues to battle a lingering ankle injury.

Freeman played in seven of the Dodgers’ eight games this postseason after severely spraining his right ankle on September 26 against San Diego. Typically a power threat, he has seven hits – all singles – in 27 at-bats.

With left-hander Jose Quintana ready to start for the New York Mets, Los Angeles opted for a mostly right-handed lineup on Thursday. Teoscar Hernandez will move to the No. 3 hole usually occupied by Freeman, and Kiké Hernández, who has played center field, will move to third base while Max Muncy slides across the diamond to fill Freeman’s spot at first.

The Dodgers lead the best-of-seven series 2-1 after an 8-0 win in Game 3 on Wednesday night.

Freeman, a former MVP and eight-time All-Star, has undergone hours of treatment every day to prepare to play. He also missed Game 4 of Los Angeles’ division series win against San Diego.

Freeman, 35, also wasn’t in the Dodgers’ pregame lineup before Game 1 of the division series, but he was put on the lineup card just before game time and subsequently had two hits.

“He’s in a lot of pain,” Los Angeles catcher Will Smith said. “You can see it when he runs and everything. But he inspires us as players, as a teammate. Willing to put his body on the line. It’s impressive. It gets us going. We love it when he’s in there. He waved It’s good for us. Unfortunately he’s not here today, but I know he’ll be back tomorrow.”