The start of the 2020 regular season is just around the corner for the Los Angeles Dodgers, as they are scheduled to host the San Francisco Giants on July 23. L.A. is playing intrasquad games during Summer Camp but are without Max Muncy, who went downwith a minor finger injury on his left hand after being hit by a pitch.
The injury is not believed to be too serious, but with Opening Day just over a week away, it is not surprising to see the Dodgers being cautious with Muncy and keeping him out of intrasquad scrimmages for the past few days.
“Max is on a conditioning program right now. He’s been swinging a bat and might be part of the live session today,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Sunday. “He’s been taking batting practice, and to be quite honest, feels really good swinging the bat and not like that finger is impeding him at all.
“He’s been playing catch so he can keep his arm in shape. The one thing that’s in question right now is catching the baseball. I do see him getting some at-bats soon. It will probably be more of a DH variety, but the hope that we can see him at first base on Opening Day.”
The Dodgers only held a workout Monday and have a four intrasquad scrimmages this week before playing the Arizona Diamondbacks and L.A. Angels for three exhibition games starting Sunday.
Muncy Also Confident He’ll Be Ready By Opening Day
Muncy himself expressed confidence he will be available come the start of the regular season, noting his situation was more about pain tolerance than needing to recover from an injury.
“If this was the regular season or playoff situation, I’d be able to find a way to be in there,” he said. “But there’s no point in rushing it right now. We’re feeling pretty good that I’ll be more than ready for Opening Day.”
Luckily, the Dodgers have the luxury of the universal designated hitter in 2020, so even if Muncy is not able to play the field at the start of the regular season, Roberts can still get him in the lineup.
Edwin Rios has been swinging the bat extremely well in camp so far and is a capable first baseman, as is Matt Beaty if Muncy is forced to miss time in the field to begin the season.
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