The Dodgers have seemingly avoided a worst-case scenario with injured infielder Max Muncy, but he’ll still hit the 10-day IL, the team announced Friday. The title contenders recalled infielder/outfielder Kristopher Negron from Triple-A Oklahoma City in a corresponding move.
Muncy left the Dodgers’ win over the Padres on Wednesday after taking a fastball off the right wrist from the Friars’ Matt Strahm. Although Dodgers manager Dave Roberts initially indicated Muncy had avoided a break, that isn’t the case. He did indeed suffer a fracture, according to the club. However, it’s not as dire as it sounds – Muncy called it “average” news, and added he could return within one or two weeks, Jorge Castillo of the Los Angeles Times tweets.
The Dodgers are laden with depth (star prospect Gavin Lux may be among second base possibilities if Muncy can’t come back quickly), but they obviously don’t want to go without Muncy for long as the playoffs near. The 2018 breakout performer has continued to stand out this year with a .253/.375/.525 line and 33 home runs across 534 plate appearances. Along with giving the Dodgers yet another formidable bat, Muncy has been one of many prominent multi-position options for the club. The 29-year-old has started at second base 59 times, first on 35 occasions and third for 24 games.
While the Dodgers can only hope Muncy will be back in short order, infielder David Freese and righties Dylan Floro and Ross Stripling (previously reported) are all set to come off the IL when rosters expand Sunday, per Castillo. Freese will slot back into the Dodgers’ lineup on a regular basis, Roberts announced, after sitting out more than a month with a left hamstring strain. The 36-year-old first baseman has missed time on two occasions this season with the same injury, but he has still enjoyed a marvelous campaign with the bat. On a per-PA basis, few major leaguers have been more effective than Freese, owner of a .300/.399/.579 line (155 wRC+) with nine homers in 163 trips.
Statistically, Floro has been among the Dodgers’ most reliable relievers in what has been a rickety bullpen in 2019. That’s not to say Floro has been lights-out, though – the team optioned him to the minors earlier this month, and he posted a 3.89 ERA/3.78 FIP with 7.3 K/9, 2.92 BB/9 and a 52.3 percent groundball rate before hitting the shelf Aug. 20 with a left intercostal strain. But he and Stripling still look as though they’ll help bolster the Dodgers’ staff to some degree with the postseason approaching.
I’m no doctor but 1-2 weeks seems awfully short to be out with a wrist fracture
Its not a major break
Exactly thinking the same thing. It’s a fracture. He’s done for at least a month.
Gavin Lux…comes on.
Negron was on the IL, not in AAA
As someone who broke his wrist this is a 6 week recovery … not 2 …. not a month. As a Braves fan who has seen this guy be a pain in the ### with the bat – come October divisional playoffs im very glad he will be on the back end of rehab with his strength diminished.
Yes let’s root for injuries
Dont you want them to be at full strength when they choke in October? I know I do. Speedy recovery Max.
LA is so deep, and Bellinger aside, they really don’t lose a whole lot when someone gets injured. Chris Taylor and Kiki can hold down the fort for a week or two when needed. As for replacing Muncy, those two might have to do it for longer than two weeks. I agree with a previous poster. This injury ain’t gonna heal in two weeks.
Gavin Lux? hey, why not give the kid a chance? However, with a 19 game lead in the division, LA might play the extra-year-of-player-control game with Lux. In short, he’s exciting but not needed at this time.
Markakis has a “fractured wrist” and has been on the IL for quite some time now. having said that I know the “fracture” varies in severity. But even if the fracture is only a crack in the bone it seems like there’s no way that you would be able to swing back and hit him all of any kind of authority in 1 to 2 weeks.
Good luck to him.
Lmao!!! Giants, should have zigged when they zagged. Pathetic.
I was looking forward to the Dodgers having two players with 40+ home runs this season. This makes it very doubtful it happens unless Max can hit 8 home runs in 12 games