On the eve of the 2025 MLB All-Star Game, the Los Angeles Dodgers are again perched atop the National League West. But their path to the break has been anything but smooth. Few stories in their tumultuous first half have been as compelling as Max Muncy’s journey, weaving through adversity, perseverance, and flashes of the clutch power he’s known for.
Muncy’s season got off to an undeniably rough start. In March, he hit just .188 over 16 at-bats, tallying three hits, one home run, and two RBIs. The struggles only deepened in April, with his average slipping to .167 over 48 at-bats, producing just eight hits. Through his first 19 games, he owned a .172 batting average with only four RBIs and a single home run. This disappointingly slow start set a worrisome tone for Muncy and the Dodgers, whose towering expectations after a blockbuster winter were quickly met with cold, complex reality. Still, even as Dodgers fans fretted over the box scores, the team remained among the biggest championship favorites in the league.
The Dodgers’ odds to win the 2025 World Series have not been impacted by their recent struggles. Winspirit casino and sportsbook listed them at a steady +400 as of mid-June, reflecting faith in their overall roster strength and playoff pedigree.
May Revival: Muncy Reignites the Lineup
The tide began to turn in May. Muncy, whose timing and confidence had wobbled over the season’s opening months, found his swing. Over the first three weeks of May, he raised his average above .220, blasting crucial home runs and coming through in clutch moments. In a standout 10-game stretch early in the month, Muncy was a force at the plate, hitting .313 with 10 hits, four home runs, and 17 RBIs. These numbers reflected the dynamic presence the Dodgers desperately needed to steady their lineup. Not-so-coincidentally, the team surged, strengthening their lead in the division and looking every bit the powerhouse their fans and analysts had forecasted over the winter.
Muncy’s resurgence stabilized the Dodgers’ offense at a critical juncture. His improved plate discipline and timely power shifted momentum, delivering relief to a squad that, despite its often deep lineup, had battled through multiple injuries and nagging inconsistencies during the spring.
Injury Setback and a Stunning Losing Streak
Just as hope started rising at Chavez Ravine, trouble returned. In early June, a hamstring injury sidelined Muncy during what was shaping up to be his best stretch of the season. His absence left a significant void in the Dodgers’ batting order, which was soon compounded by misfiring supporting players and a struggling bullpen.
The response on the field was immediate and disastrous. By mid-June, the Dodgers sank into a shocking seven-game losing streak, capped by an agonizing 8-7 defeat to the Giants at Oracle Park. Across that span, the offense cooled off dramatically, scoring just ten runs over six losses and getting outscored 44-10. The skid was jolting and historic for one of baseball’s most talented and expensive rosters—the club’s longest losing run since 2017.
Bookending the First Half: Muncy’s Season in Context
Through all the turmoil, Max Muncy’s numbers for the season show both how deep his early struggles went and just how significant his turnaround was. Heading to the All-Star break, he’s batting .220 with nine home runs and 23 RBIs across 55 games, with an on-base plus slugging percentage (OPS) of .832—far below his career peaks, but impressively resilient given where he began. Regarding productivity, he has worked his way back into the upper third of National League third basemen and is regarded as a key figure for the Dodgers’ second-half plans.
Dodgers Still Favored, Focused on Health and October
Despite the eye-popping seven-game slide and round of injuries, all signs point to the Dodgers maintaining their status as World Series favorites. Their leadership core remains steady, the front office has proven adept at navigating midseason adversity, and the roster features enviable depth. The standings show Los Angeles still atop the National League West with a comfortable margin over division rivals San Francisco and San Diego. That cushion gives the Dodgers invaluable flexibility as they plan for the dog days of July and the looming postseason run.
With so much of the regular season yet to play, but a substantial division lead secured by the break, the Dodgers are in a position to prioritize rest and health rather than burning out chasing every midseason win. The focus will now be returning Muncy and other key contributors to full strength while setting up the pitching staff for a dominant October run.
Ready for the Second Half: Dodgers Set for More
Escaping a slow start, rebounding with a May surge, enduring the sting of injury and a brutal losing streak, and reaching the midpoint with the division lead intact, the Dodgers’ journey to the All-Star break has demanded the grit that championship teams are built on. The consensus remains that Los Angeles is still the team to beat in the National League West and remains the odds-on favorite to win it all in October. With their current lead over the Giants and Padres, their focus entering the season’s second half should be on getting healthy, maintaining momentum, and securing a crucial first-round playoff bye. The foundation remains strong in Los Angeles—now, it falls to the Dodgers to turn potential into postseason triumph.
