The Los Angeles Dodgers lost another key player last week when Max Muncy was placed on the 10-day injured list after sustaining a bone bruise in his left knee from the impact of Michael A. Taylor sliding into him while attempting to steal third base.
An MRI revealed that Muncy did not sustain any structural damage in his knee, which he initially feared. While the diagnosis was somewhat encouraging, the 34-year-old is expected to be out for around six weeks.
Even if Muncy is able to return before the calendar turns to September, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said the two-time All-Star will likely feel the effects of his knee injury for months to come.
“I think so,” Roberts answered when asked if Muncy’s injury will linger. “I think it’s probably to the touch, I think it’ll carry onto next year.
“I think that I’ve had those, and there’s certainly a point where you can play, but then there’s still the part of to the touch, it still gets sensitive. So I think that’s going to be around for a while, unfortunately.”
Muncy is in his eighth season with the Dodgers and had been one of the team’s hottest bats before injuring his knee. Since May 15, he is batting .312/.438/.616 with three doubles, 11 home runs and 43 RBI in 41 games.
With Muncy sidelined, the Dodgers are going to rely on Tommy Edman, Kiké Hernández and Miguel Rojas at third base. Edman figures to receive most of the starts against right-handed pitching.
Max Muncy’s injury doesn’t change trade deadline for Dodgers
Muncy’s injury potentially creates an opportunity to acquire a third baseman before the MLB trade deadline on July 31. However, Roberts does not foresee the team addressing the position in the weeks ahead.
“I don’t think that changes much, with knowing the certainty of Max coming back at some point,” Roberts said of the Dodgers adding a third baseman.
“I feel that with the options we have, yes Max is a big loss, but I feel like on the defensive side, having Tommy over there, matching up right versus left as far as Hyeseong, and the two right-handers that I mentioned, I think we’ll be covered offensively.
“So I don’t think that really will impact the thinking going into the deadline.”
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