Muncy has a strained hamstring, hopes to avoid IL
LOS ANGELES >> Max Muncy was held out of the Dodgers’ lineup Tuesday with a left hamstring strain. He will undergo an MRI today and hopes to avoid the injured list depending on the results.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Muncy sustained the injury running to first base Saturday in Philadelphia on a flyout. Muncy has missed only six games this season. One of those — the Dodgers’ May 29 contest against the Washington Nationals — was the result of a left hamstring cramp.
Tuesday marked the first time Muncy was not in the starting lineup against a right-handed pitcher since April.
“Potentially tomorrow (Muncy will) be ready to come off the bench, then the hope is to be back in the lineup Thursday,” Roberts said.
Muncy began the week with the team lead in home runs (18) and ranks second in RBIs (45) while serving as the Dodgers’ everyday third baseman.
Chris Taylor started at third base on Tuesday against Chicago White Sox right-hander Lance Lynn.
Side action
Reliever Adam Kolarek made his 2023 debut Sunday with a familiar number on his back (56) and an unfamiliar delivery. He’s releasing the ball about a foot lower than he did in 2020, his last season with the Dodgers prior to a February 2021 trade to the Oakland A’s.
Kolarek said his “somewhere in between sidearm and submarine” delivery was suggested to him in spring training by the Dodgers’ pitching coaches in order to make him a more deceptive pitcher — primarily with the twoseam fastball that he uses to induce ground balls.
“It hasn’t been like trying to invent a new pitch, rather just could my strength that I already feel comfortable with get even better,” Kolarek said. “That’s been my priority so far this year working on it in Oklahoma. It’s a new approach visually when I dip my head lower.”
His results at Triple-A were encouraging: in 20 2/3 innings prior to his call-up, Kolarek had a 2.18 ERA.
Kolarek’s employment prospects diminished when MLB introduced the three-batter minimum rule prior to the 2020 season. He has historically dominated left-handed hitters (.190 batting average) but struggled against righties (.311). The rule, in turn, also reduced the number of sidearming pitchers who rely on deception and ground balls to get outs.
Kolarek, 34, didn’t have many contemporary role models to study when he was transitioning to his current delivery. He said he studied video of a pair of right-handers, Tyler Rogers and Darren O’Day, to make the adjustment.
“Everyone has something unique in their delivery that makes them who they are,” Kolarek said. “Maybe from the outside it looks like a crazy delivery but there is a lot of thought that goes into it.”
Also
Julio Urías (strained left hamstring) threw from flat ground again but does not have a timetable for throwing off a mound, Roberts said . ... Shelby Miller will be activated from the bereavement list today, Roberts said . ... Right-hander Bobby Miller will start either Friday or Saturday against the San Francisco Giants, with a bullpen game planned for the other game . ... Ryan Pepiot (oblique) has yet to begin a throwing program, Roberts said . ... Former Dodgers manager Joe Torre was appointed to the Baseball Hall of Fame’s Board of Directors.