The Los Angeles Dodgers made several roster moves prior to Friday’s series opener against the Colorado Rockies, one of which involved placing Max Muncy on the paternity list.
Muncy missed the entire weekend series in order to travel to Arizona to be with his wife, Kellie, who gave birth to their daughter on Friday night.
Paternity leave requires a player to miss at least that day’s game but no more than three days. That left Muncy on track to return for this week’s series against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park.
Muncy revealed that his wife planned the delivery date so he wouldn’t have to miss any games against the Dodgers’ biggest rival, per Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle:
“My wife actually planned that one out. We’re gonna induce” Friday, Muncy told The Chronicle before Thursday’s finale at Dodger Stadium. “She didn’t want me to miss any games against the Giants.”
After dropping three of four to the Giants last week, the Dodgers have an opportunity to avenge themselves and make up ground in the National League West standings.
They stand a better chance of doing so with Muncy in the lineup, who has dominated San Francisco this season. In 13 games against the Giants, Muncy is batting .317/.440/.927 with eight home runs and 10 RBI over 50 plate appearances.
Muncy’s eight home runs against San Francisco is tied for the most in a single season in L.A. franchise history.
Muncy could benefit from time off
The brief time off could prove beneficial to Muncy as he sustained a minor injury after being hit by a pitch in his right shoulder blade that led to an early exit during the second of last week’s four-game series against the Giants.
Muncy wasn’t able to lift his arm shortly after, but remained in the lineup each of the next two nights.
Sheldon Neuse was optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City in order to add Muncy back to the active roster.
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