The Los Angeles Dodgers dropped the opening game of their series with the San Diego Padres, but the attention quickly turned to Max Muncy, who was removed from the game during the eighth inning.
While Muncy had been dealing with an illness, it was unclear if that was the reason for his exit at the time. However, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts confirmed that after the loss, which was the best possible outcome rather than an injury to Muncy.
“He had some flu-like symptoms, and it was 50-50 if he was going to play,” Roberts said. “I just saw him laboring all night long, so I felt that was a time to get him off his feet, get him hydrated.”
With the Dodgers losing and Josh Hader, a tough left-hander coming in to pitch the ninth, it made a lot of sense to get Muncy some extra rest. Chris Taylor was inserted into the lineup and struck out in his lone at-bat.
Taylor will likely start at third base again on Saturday with Blake Snell on the mound, although Michael Busch is also a potential option. Still, the plan is to have Muncy in as the designated hitter, depending on how he’s feeling.
“Right now the hope is that he’ll be in there to DH,” Roberts said. “So hopefully we can have his bat in there but keep him off his feet as much as possible.”
Overall this season, Muncy has been the Dodgers best hitter, so if he is able to play, it would be an added boost for the club in an important series.
The 32-year-old is batting .232/.388/.621 with 12 home runs, 28 RBI and 22 runs over 29 games.
Dodgers lineup ‘feeds off of’ Max Muncy
With a new-look roster after losing multiple key players in the offseason and a few players struggling through the first month of the season, Muncy has become arguably the most important player in the lineup.
“You hate to say that one guy is sort of a key figure, but if I had to pick one guy who is going well, guys feed off of Max and what he’s doing in the batter’s box,” Roberts said.
Muncy is in the early running for the National League MVP Award, which he previously finished in 15th place for in 2018 and 2019, and 10th in voting in 2021.
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