Forward of their greatest sequence of the season, the Dodgers suffered one other vital damage blow.
Third baseman Max Muncy was positioned on the 10-day injured checklist Friday with a Grade 1 proper indirect pressure forward of the staff’s pivotal divisional matchup in opposition to the San Diego Padres.
The Dodgers are hopeful Muncy’s damage — which supervisor Dave Roberts mentioned was just like, however extra delicate, than the indirect and rib downside that sidelined him for a lot of final yr — gained’t be season ending.
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Nevertheless, Muncy shall be out for not less than a number of weeks, with Roberts providing no agency timetable past that.
“I don’t think anyone knows right now, but certainly beyond the 10 days,” Roberts mentioned. “I think that’s a safe bet.”
In a corresponding transfer, the Dodgers claimed infielder Buddy Kennedy off waivers from the Toronto Blue Jays.
The final time the Dodgers misplaced Muncy, to a knee damage in early July that saved him out for a few month, their offense cratered.
Earlier than that time, the staff had led the majors in scoring, with 25 extra runs than another membership. However over the 25 video games he missed, they ranked final, averaging 3.5 runs per recreation whereas different star hitters endured slumps.
That sequence served as a reminder of Muncy’s significance to the staff. Even after a sluggish begin this yr, he was hitting .258 with 17 dwelling runs and 64 RBIs in 89 video games.
“It’s certainly a tough loss,” Roberts mentioned. “I think it’s just, guys got to continue to perform to their abilities. It’s hard to kind of backfill Max, what he brings as far as the plate discipline, the slug, the on-base, all that stuff. I feel good about our lineup, the guys that we have, and they’ve just got to go out there and take good at-bats. That’s kind of all we can do right now.”
Muncy’s damage comes amid different key accidents to the lineup.
Tommy Edman and Kiké Hernández (the staff’s main backup choices at third base) are unlikely to return earlier than September. Due to that, the membership had already dug deep into its minor-league depth, together with calling up extremely touted prospect Alex Freeland — who has hit simply .176 since arriving, however obtained the beginning at third base Friday.
