Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told reporters today (including Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times) that he expects infielder Max Muncy to return to the lineup at third base for Tuesday’s game against the Rockies in Denver. J.P. Hoornstra of The Orange County Register adds that the club will wait to see how Muncy feels following Tuesday’s game before determining whether or not he’s ready to play on back-to-back days.
Muncy’s return figures to provide a huge boost to a beleaguered Dodgers club that’s been outscored 44-29 since he last played on June 11. While the 32-year-old slugger has hit above the Mendoza line just once in the past four seasons, his overall slash line of .214/.342/.450 is good for a wRC+ that’s 18% better than league average during that time frame. That’s thanks to Muncy sporting a combination of power and plate discipline that stands among the game’s best. Since joining the Dodgers in 2018, Muncy ranks 4th in the NL in both walk rate (15.4%) and home runs (157). Michael Busch has held down the fort at third base while Muncy was on the shelf.
Also set to re-join the club in the coming days is lefty Julio Urias, who Hoornstra notes is expected to return to the club during next weekend’s series in Kansas City. A free agent at season’s end, Urias will look to improve upon the uncharacteristic 4.39 ERA and 5.30 FIP he posted across his first 11 starts of the season prior to hitting the injured list. Urias figures to be among the top free agents available this offseason behind Shohei Ohtani, even after his struggles to start the season, given his pedigree as a hurler with a career ERA of 2.95 who won’t turn 27 until August.
Hoornstra adds that, according to Roberts, young right-handers Emmet Sheehan and Bobby Miller both figure to remain in the rotation even after Urias is activated. Roberts heaped praise on the pair of youngsters, describing their performance at the big league level so far as “100th percentile” when it comes to handling the opportunity to pitch in the majors. Entering play today, Sheehan has posted a 1.50 ERA across two starts with the club while Miller has impressed to the tune of a 2.83 ERA in five starts.
That figures to leave right-hander Noah Syndergaard without a job in the rotation going forward. As noted by Hoornstra, the right-hander threw three simulated innings prior to today’s game against the Astros, without being hindered by the blister that sent him to the 15-day IL earlier this month. That being said, Roberts described Syndergaard’s session today as simply “checking a box” for the right-hander, adding that “we’re still a ways away” from Syndergaard returning to the active roster. After signing a one-year deal with the Dodgers this past winter, Syndergaard has struggled badly with a 7.16 ERA in 55 1/3 innings of work.
Trade Syndergard to Texas for LeClec
Sometimes I wish they had thumbs down
Why not trade Thor for Zac Gallen while we’re at it?
No, the Cardinals are trading Steve Matz for Gallen. We need a do over.
Why would Texas do that?
Bullpen. If Thor worked out of the bullpen, might be better. If not, easier to cut ties.
@Garmo87 Long minor league assignment to figure stuff out. He’s got a long track record of being useful and the Dodgers should not DFA him.
Syndergaard hasn’t worked out period. The only reason to put him in the bullpen is to limit the amount of damage he can do whenever he takes the mound. The better scenario is to not let him do any damage at all.
“Huge boost”
Noah needs to switch to the Pen
Noah needs to switch to a different team. Seems the magic that made Tyler Anderson look like an ace a year ago has no effect on a norse god…
Noah needs to switch to retirement. Maybe he can join Matt Harvey pitching real estate instead of baseballs.
You mean slinging dope
No, I mean Harvey’s new job as managing director at Newmark. Try to keep up with the news.
Can’t fix everybody
Maybe Thor can join Mr Perv Bauer in Japan!!
It’s curious how the Dodgers handled the Bauer affair and they did not have a problem honoring and present a recognition to that demonic group called The sisters of the perpetual indulgence. Christ don’t need to be defended, he already came victorious over Satan but is for us thrue believers to make a stand against those perverted groups and those that feel proud of their existence. Repent and sin no more, or else.
The Dodgers are going to the pit and I hope Kershaw get out of the organization
But not everyone is Christian, so don’t force your beliefs on us.
I’m not forcing my belief on anyone, you are free to disagree, I won’t keep quiet while others mock something that I consider the ultimate sacrifice and on top of it forcing others to applaud…like I said JESUS DON’T NEED TO BE DEFENDED..PEACE
More to the point is that Jesus doesn’t need to be mentioned on this thread.
Why not? It’s a censured word or I’m crossing a line here? Too many ppl says Oh My God on a consistent way right here, why should I keep myself out of mention The Lord’s name since is the center of my position against the ppl that promote His disecration.
Because it’s irrelevant to baseball and offensive to some of us who aren’t Christian. Practice kindness instead of proselytizing.
Offensive uh? Give me a break, I practice kindness but can not stand mockery or attacks on the person of JC. Are you going to feel offended b/c someone here give thanks to God for allowing him or she to meet a fav player and shake his hand?
Jesus is your god, not mine. Give thanks to your god if you want, but it’s offensive for you to push your Christian beliefs on others who aren’t interested.
That you lack the sensitivity and awareness to realize that and keep your stuff to yourself speaks poorly of you as a person and Christianity as a religion.
I’m not trying yo convince anyone, just defending my belief, but you can speak about your un-christiannity and that is allowed. Ok, I understand your position, let’s move.
12 guys out on a boat fishing all the time with scant mention of women or relationships? Those who live in glass houses should not cast stones.
This is a baseball site, keep your politics and religion for more appropriate blogs. The Dodgers obviously made the right decision on Bauer on many fronts, not just ethics, as Bauer is pitching poorly overseas.
Not talking about performance, it’s about their hypocrisy….so I’m free to my opinion and I’m standing on it.
Syndergaard threw three simulated innings today and STILL got lit up.
Syndergaarden’s Soundgarden now.
He’s a black hole, son.
Muncy’s gotta be the least likable player in baseball. So grotesque.
What makes him so unlikeable and why does it matter?
Perverted group? It’s an LGBTQ group that was at the forefront of AIDS crisis in the early 80s. You know back when people thought it was a gay disease including the church. It’s amazing that people get up in arms over the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, but say nothing over the Catholic Church that moved pedo priests around various churches over decades to hide their pedo.
BRAVO! Very well said.
You can put makeup on a pig, but still a pig..
You can put makeup on a goy, but still a goy.
Nothing like sanctimonious bigotry am I right?
Yeah, Muncy’s slash line of .214/.342/.450 is good for a wRC+ that’s 18% better than league average. But what’s his XwOBAloney over that span of games?