Oblique strain lands Muncy on 10-day injured list
LOS ANGELES » Between his power and patience on offense, and his ability to shift effortlessly between first and second base on defense, Max Muncy has been the Dodgers’ most valuable player this season. Until recently, he was equal parts healthy and productive.
Muncy missed one game entirely, and was relegated to the bench in two others, after he injured his ankle June 4 in Atlanta. Friday, Muncy strained his right oblique muscle early in a 12-1 win over the Texas Rangers. Saturday, the Dodgers placed him on the 10-day injured list.
“I think we got it early,” Manager Dave
Roberts said of Muncy’s oblique injury. “He’s (injured) it before in the past and it’s not as significant as before.”
Through Friday, Muncy was leading the major leagues in Baseball Reference’s version of Wins Above Replacement. He has a .264 batting average, .418 on-base percentage, and a .528 slugging percentage in 60 games. Muncy also leads the Dodgers with 13 home runs and is third with 33 RBIs.
Roberts said he originally penciled in Muncy to start at second base Saturday against the Texas Rangers — his first action at the position since June 1. Andy Burns was recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City instead and took Muncy’s place in the field. The Dodgers also recalled outfielder Luke Raley from Triple-A prior to Saturday’s game.
Injuries have had an outsized impact on the Dodgers’ fortunes this season. Muncy was among their few constants en route to a 38-25 record through Friday. He had established himself as the everyday number-2 hitter in Roberts’ lineup; Chris Taylor batted there Saturday.
Roberts said Cody Bellinger, Albert Pujols and Matt Beaty are candidates to play first base in Muncy’s absence.
Primarily an outfielder the last three seasons, Bellinger recently returned from a hairline fracture in his left leg. He suffered a hamstring cramp in the fifth inning Friday and didn’t return to the game.
“If we can take some mileage off (Bellinger) at first base, that could be helpful,” Roberts said.
In addition to placing Muncy on the injured list, the Dodgers optioned Mitch White to TripleA Oklahoma City, leaving them with eight relief pitchers and a five-man bench.
Slow burn rewarded
Burns, 30, had never been penciled into a major league starting lineup before Saturday. His only previous big league action came in 2016, when he made just seven plate appearances for the Toronto Blue Jays.
“I can almost to the ‘T’ tell you every pitch sequence,” Burns said. ‘I’ve been waiting for this for a long time. Hopefully this is just the start of the beginning.”
The Dodgers signed Burns to a minor league contract in December. Through Friday, he had a 10-game hitting streak at Triple-A Oklahoma City. During the streak, he was 17-for-33 (.515) with three homers, six doubles and 13 RBI. He’s seen time at second base, third base, left field and right field.
A right-handed hitter, Burns spelled the left-handed hitting Gavin Lux with a southpaw on the mound (Kolby Allard) for the Texas Rangers.
Since his cup of coffee with Toronto, Burns has played for professional teams in Australia and Korea. He spent last season at the Blue Jays’ alternate site camp.
Burns said his wife, Kate, and their four-month-old daughter, Kenna, were able to attend Saturday’s game. He’s hoping his parents can fly in from their home in Colorado prior to Sunday’s series finale.
“It’s been a 5-year journey to get back to this point,” Burns said. “A lot of blood, sweat, tears and challenges. To see it come full circle is really special.”
Injury updates
Scott Alexander faced Burns and Yoshi Tsutsugo during a 20-pitch simulated inning at Dodger Stadium. Only one pitch (to Burns) resulted in solid contact.
The plan calls for Alexander to pitch to teammates again in “a few days,” Roberts said, either in Los Angeles or at Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Arizona. Alexander is on the 60-day injured list with left shoulder inflammation.
Corey Seager (right hand fracture) took ground balls at shortstop and ran to first base. Roberts said Seager will take overhand batting practice for the first time “hopefully early next week,” then face live pitching in a simulated game.
Tsutsugo (calf) is expected to join Triple-A Oklahoma City on a rehab assignment Monday, Roberts said.
Odd man out
To make room for Burns on the 40-man roster, the Dodgers designated pitcher Dennis Santana for assignment. The 25-year-old right-hander had a 6.00 earned-run average in 16 games this season, and a 6.42 ERA in 32 games across the last four seasons, split between the majors and minors.
Santana had 11 walks compared to eight strikeouts in 15 innings this season.
“I just think that with Dennis it’s just strike throwing,” Roberts said. “It’s not about the stuff. There’s a 2-seamer, there’s a 4-seamer, trying to figure out the slower slider, the harder slider to right and left(-handed batters). I think with Dennis there’s a lot of value, as far as potential roles and stuff, but the consistent strike-throwing is something we need to continue to see.”