While Wednesday was about Clayton Kershaw reaching 3,000 career strikeouts and the Los Angeles Dodgers coming away with their seventh walk-off win of the season, the night also saw Max Muncy sustain an apparent left knee injury.
Muncy was removed from the game in the sixth inning after he went to cover third base on a stolen base attempt. Michael A. Taylor head-first slide carried him into Muncy’s left knee, causing it bend inward.
Muncy immediately went down to the ground and grabbed at his knee as Dodgers manager Dave Roberts and head athletic trainer Thomas Albert rushed out of the dugout to tend to him. Muncy then limped off the field with some assistance from Albert.
“Max is going to get an MRI [Thursday],” Roberts said after the game. “A lot of the tests that they did right now, we feel optimistic. I think that our hope is that it’s a sprain. Obviously, for the next few days, I’m sure he’ll probably be down. The MRI will show more.”
Roberts said the Dodgers did not yet have a sense as to whether or not Muncy would need to go on the 10-day injured list. He reiterated the MRI results would dictate such a move.
The injury was reminiscent of Muncy suffering a season-ending right elbow injury while playing first base during the 2021 season. He and the Dodgers initially suggested a return during the playoffs was feasible if the team advanced far enough, though Muncy later revealed that was not a possibility as the full extent of his injury was a torn UCL.
Clayton Kershaw upset by Max Muncy getting injured
Muncy’s injury occurred moments before Kershaw recorded the 3,000th strikeout of his career. The Dodgers still celebrated the milestone accordingly, but Muncy’s status was not far from Kershaw’s mind.
“You do your job, but we’re all thinking about Munce right now. He’s a huge part of our team, made a great play there,” he said before expressing some dismay over Taylor running.
“I don’t really know why he stole. It just seemed unnecessary. I feel bad that it happened. We’re all holding our breath that Munce is going to be OK. He’s obviously a huge part of our team, and especially the last two months he’s been unbelievable.”
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