ATLANTA -- Braves manager Brian Snitker removed Freddie Freeman from Saturday night’s 11-5 win over the White Sox to improve the odds of the All-Star first baseman returning to Sunday’s lineup with what will be a bruised left foot.

The middle of Freeman’s foot was struck by Jimmy Cordero’s 99-mph sinker in the second inning. But he was not removed until the Braves pinch-hit for him while possessing a 7-2 lead in the sixth.

“He’s sore,” Snitker said. “We’ll check him out when he comes in tomorrow. I just wanted to get him out and get him treated up. The quicker we got to him, the better chance we have to get him in there tomorrow.”

After scoring from second base on Matt Joyce’s second-inning single, Freeman hobbled down the dugout stairs toward the clubhouse. But he took the field at the start of the third inning and tallied one more plate appearance -- a fourth-inning flyout.

Freeman served as the Braves starting first baseman for all but two games last year, and he has been out of the starting lineup just once through this season’s first 136 games.