After losing seven of their past nine games, the Los Angeles Dodgers are getting two key pieces of their every-day lineup back.
Max Muncy was activated from the injured list, the team announced. He will start Monday’s game against the Colorado Rockies at third base and bat fourth.
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Muncy, 35, missed the Dodgers’ past 23 games due to an oblique injury. He suffered the injury on Aug. 13 while working out in the batting cage. It was his second stint on the IL this season, following a month-long absence in July due to a bone bruise in his left knee.
In 89 games this season, Muncy has a .259/.389/.491 slash line with 17 home runs and 64 RBI.
“Obviously, it’s a big boost,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said of Muncy’s return. “We’ve been waiting for this one for a long time. Not to add any pressure to Max, but just kind of having his presence in the lineup, just taking a quality at-bat … obviously adds length to our lineup, a left-handed hitter who can just do some things, provide some slug, some on-base.”
Roberts added that catcher Will Smith is expected to return to the lineup Tuesday and could be available to pinch-hit in Monday’s game. The Dodgers feared that he might have to go on the IL due to a bone bruise on his right hand. That injury occurred when he took a foul ball off the hand Wednesday against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
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Smith, 30, is batting .296/.405/.497 with 19 doubles, 17 homers and 61 RBI in 432 plate appearances this season. He also brings major value behind the plate through managing the pitching staff, and he does an excellent job of blocking balls, with only two wild pitches allowed this season.
The Dodgers should also get utilityman Tommy Edman back this week. Edman, 30, has been on the IL due to a sprained right ankle since Aug. 3. It’s the second time he’s been sidelined by the ankle injury, which kept him out of the lineup for 16 games.
Going into Monday’s game, the Dodgers (79-64) hold a one-game lead over the San Diego Padres (78-65) in the NL West. The two teams do not play each other again in the regular season.