Although the bulk of Los Angeles Dodgers injuries have been to the pitching staff, Max Muncy being out because of a right oblique strain has further highlighted subpar performances from position-player depth.
Muncy has endured multiple setbacks during his recovery process and was recently shut down from swinging for a second time since first going on the 10-day injured list in May.
The Dodgers initially had some optimism Muncy would only miss the required time with his IL stint, which had been the case in the past when he dealt with an oblique injury.
According to Fabian Ardaya of the Athletic, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Muncy is not expected to return until August at the earliest:
Dave Roberts said there’s still no progress on Max Muncy. It’s hard to see him coming back before the trade deadline, Roberts said.
— Fabian Ardaya (@FabianArdaya) July 12, 2024
Muncy’s most recent attempt at progressing through rehab began during the Dodgers’ series against the San Francisco Giants at the end of June. While he was shut down from throwing, the 33-year-old has been able to field ground balls and do some throwing.
With the trade deadline approaching and the Dodgers struggling without the bats of Muncy and Mookie Betts, the front office may need to decide how aggressive they will be in acquiring a talented infielder. But even with Betts and possibly Muncy projecting to be back in the lineup at some point, the Dodgers still have plenty of other holes in their lineup that should be addressed.
Max Muncy talks Dodgers trade deadline & injuries
Although there is an expectation the Dodgers will be active at the MLB trade deadline, Muncy believes the team stands to easily benefit from the returns of multiple injured players during the second half.
Tyler Glasnow figures to be first among that group, with Mookie Betts potentially not far behind for an August activation. Muncy conceivably could come back in August as well, but that would likely be later in the month than Betts.
Muncy has hit .223/.323/.475 with eight doubles, nine home runs and 28 RBI in 40 games this season.
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