The Los Angeles Dodgers made an unexpected change to their lineup Saturday, scratching Max Muncy shortly before their matchup with the Washington Nationals at Dodger Stadium.
Muncy was originally scheduled to start at third base, but the Dodgers announced that Kiké Hernández would take his place at the hot corner. It’s a tough blow for a Dodgers team that is 4-6 over their last 10 games and finished August with a 13-14 record.
The timing of the setback is particularly concerning because Muncy has been one of the Dodgers’ more reliable power threats. Muncy entered Saturday batting .245 with 26 home runs, 68 RBIs and a .826 OPS.
Following his removal, the Dodgers provided an update on Muncy. The veteran third baseman was scratched due to illness.
The update comes as Los Angeles continues to battle with offensive inconsistencies, ranking last among National League teams in runs scored since July 1 (231).
The Dodgers did enter Saturday with some momentum after beating Washington 5-3 on Friday. Blake Snell delivered six scoreless innings with seven strikeouts, while Kyle Tucker homered and Teoscar Hernández drove in two runs. It was Los Angeles’ second consecutive win since sweeping the Pittsburgh Pirates on Aug. 23.
Still, the Dodgers cannot afford another extended absence from a key hitter with the postseason approaching. They have the pitching to make a deep October run, particularly after adding Tarik Skubal and getting Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow healthy, but their offense has been the bigger concern.
Muncy also was not the only Dodgers player scratched Saturday. Dalton Rushing was removed from the lineup due to right elbow discomfort after initially being announced as the designated hitter. Shohei Ohtani was also out of the lineup for a third straight game, adding to the Dodgers’ injury concerns.
Los Angeles has enough depth to navigate individual absences, but with the regular season winding down and the offense searching for consistency, the Dodgers will be hoping Muncy will be healthy and available to return soon enough.
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