Bill Shaikin: Max Muncy's absence creates major matchup challenges for Dodgers hitters

Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times on Aug 16, 2025

Published in Baseball

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LOS ANGELES — In the standings, all is right again in the Dodgers' world. Clayton Kershaw was, well, Clayton Kershaw. The Dodgers won.

In the box score, all was not well. As you already have guessed, the bullpen: Five relievers were needed to cover the final three innings, in which the San Diego Padres put potential tying and/or go-ahead runs on base in each of those innings.

And, on Day 1 of Life Without Muncy 2.0, the Dodgers managed four hits.

With 40 games to play, the Dodgers and Padres are tied atop the National League West. If Max Muncy can play in even a handful of those games, the Dodgers will be grateful.

The Dodgers put their third baseman on the injured list Friday afternoon because of a strained oblique muscle. When Muncy went on the injured list last month because of a knee injury, the Dodgers led the majors in runs. He missed 25 games, in which the Dodgers ranked last in runs.

Of the Dodgers' four hits on Friday evening, three were delivered by the bottom three batters in the lineup. That means Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, Will Smith, Freddie Freeman, Teoscar Hernández and Andy Pages went a combined one for 17.

"Max just has that balance in the lineup, as far as another left-handed (hitter)," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said, "but also handles left-handed pitching and has the ability to get on base.

"He's a threat. Now, without him, other guys have got to step up."

The Dodgers' left-handed bats, as of Friday: Ohtani, Freeman, outfielder Michael Conforto (.189) and backup catcher Dalton Rushing (.202).

It should go without saying that Ohtani and Freeman remain imposing. It should also go without saying that opponents might well line up right-handers against the Dodgers, including the Padres throwing Dylan Cease against them Saturday and Yu Darvish on Sunday.

"We're going to see a slew of right-handed pitching," Roberts said. "There are going to be right-handers coming out of the pen.

"Our right-handers have got to be better."

On that score, the most encouraging development for the Dodgers on Friday was Hernández hitting what turned out to be the decisive home run.

"Teo came to life with a big homer," Roberts said.

Hernández hit 33 home runs last season, when his OPS was at least .762 in each month of the season. His OPS has been below .762 in each month this season except the first one.

In the Dodgers' first 29 games, he hit nine home runs. In the 93 games since then, he has hit 10.

"Some days, it's good. Some days, it's bad," Hernández said. "Some days, it's in between. Hitting is not easy. But I'm going to continue to keep working and try to be consistent for the month and a half, and hopefully in the playoffs."

The pennant stretch comes first, and Roberts has faith in Hernández.

Said Roberts: "It's an easy bet that, when the stakes get higher, Teo is going to really show up for us."

Muncy does that, in getting on base and in circling the bases. In October, when the pitching can rise to the occasion, so can Muncy.

His OPS is higher in the playoffs than in the regular season. He walks way more often. He can elevate the Dodgers' lineup in October, if the rest of the lineup can step up and help get him there.

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