Latest news with #MaxMuncy
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Dodgers reliever avoids IL after scare vs. Twins
The post Dodgers reliever avoids IL after scare vs. Twins appeared first on ClutchPoints. The Los Angeles Dodgers felt the sting of the injury bug early in the 2025 season. L.A. is still without key hitter Max Muncy, which forced a batting order change. They watched a new scare after Tuesday's interconference game against the Minnesota Twins involving Ben Casparius. What's the status of the relief pitcher? The defending World Series champs learned his health fate Wednesday. Manager Dave Roberts dropped this update. Casparius 'is a little sore' in his calf per Roberts' words. However, the skipper expects for the relief pitcher to join the team on the road soon. Meaning he won't be on the injured list ahead of the Friday series against the Boston Red Sox. Casparius injured his right calf in the Tuesday contest versus the Twins at Chavez Ravine. Dodgers reporter Matthew Moreno shared he noticed Casparius wearing a sleeve over his right calf. Plus he had a 'noticeable limp.' But the Dodgers can welcome the fact he won't enter the 15-day IL window. Dodgers' Ben Casparius details pain from Twins game Casparius himself detailed the pain he endured from the Twins contest won by Minnesota 10-7. Verbally illustrating the 'discomfort' he felt. 'So for me, I think it was kind of the foot discomfort that bled into the calf a little bit and up toward the top of my knee,' Casparius shared via Dodger Blue. 'I'm kind of fortunate for that, but I'm still in a little bit of pain.' Dodger fans watched Casparius in pain during the sixth inning. He grabbed his right leg before trainers attended to him. He's among a handful of notable injuries for L.A. Blake Snell and Blake Treinen are currently out. Prized rookie Roki Sasaki also went down during the early portion of the year. Even Clayton Kershaw got a late start to his 2025 season following his lingering left knee ailment. Casparius is 7-4 overall on the hill with 60 strikeouts. Meanwhile, Yoshinobu Yamamoto has maintained top pitching duties for the Dodgers with a team-best 125 strikeouts. But Shohei Ohtani is re-impressing on the mound — even reaching two-way history versus the Twins on Monday for hitting a home run and starting at pitcher in the same game. Related: Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani hits impressive milestone with 1st inning HR vs. Twins Related: Former Dodgers top prospect released after striking out 40 times in 59 ABs
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Dodgers get important Blake Snell, Max Muncy injury updates
The post Dodgers get important Blake Snell, Max Muncy injury updates appeared first on ClutchPoints. As the July 31 MLB trade deadline approaches, the Los Angeles Dodgers are getting closer to a different kind of boost — key reinforcements from the injured list. Two of the most significant updates involve left-handed pitcher Blake Snell and infielder Max Muncy, both of whom are trending in the right direction and could rejoin the team soon. Blake Snell, who's been out with a shoulder issue since June, is scheduled to make what could be his final rehab start on Saturday with Triple-A Oklahoma City. The reigning NL Cy Young winner is expected to throw around five innings or 75 pitches in what will be his fourth rehab outing. In his three previous appearances across multiple levels of the Dodgers' minor league system, Snell has impressed. He's posted a 2.00 ERA with a 1.00 WHIP and an eye-popping 17:1 strikeout-to-walk ratio over nine innings. In his most recent outing last Sunday, he stretched out to 58 pitches over four innings, showing progress in both workload and effectiveness. The Dodgers are looking to get active at the trade deadline amid a flurry of injuries Dodgers manager Dave Roberts acknowledged that Saturday's start could be a turning point. 'Once we get through that, there will be a real discussion on if he should join us or do another one,' Roberts said earlier this week. Assuming Snell comes through Saturday's outing without issue, he could slot back into the Dodgers' rotation during next weekend's series against the Tampa Bay Rays — a timely addition for a staff still dealing with injuries to key arms. Meanwhile, Max Muncy's recovery from a bone bruise in his left knee is ahead of schedule. The slugging third baseman has ramped up baseball activities in recent days, including taking ground balls and hitting on the field. Tuesday marked a significant milestone, as Muncy participated in on-field batting practice for the first time since his injury. Roberts revealed that Muncy is headed to the team's facility in Arizona to face live pitching. 'Max is going to go to Arizona and take live at-bats for a few days,' Roberts said. 'As we get through the weekend we'll see where he's at to potentially go on rehab the next week.' The Dodgers have managed to maintain their lead in the NL West despite a wave of injuries, and the potential return of both Snell and Muncy could give them a major lift as they head into the home stretch of the regular season. While trade deadline rumors swirl around bullpen upgrades, internal additions like these could be just as impactful. With the returns of Blake Treinen and Roki Sasaki also on the horizon, the Dodgers appear poised to rearm in time for another deep October run. Related: Dodgers' Mookie Betts gets expected return date from Dave Roberts Related: Dodgers' perfect Emmanuel Clase trade proposal to Guardians
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
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Dodgers receive 2 encouraging injury updates
The post Dodgers receive 2 encouraging injury updates appeared first on ClutchPoints. After spending months fighting through injury after injury during the first half of the 2025 MLB season, the Los Angeles Dodgers have finally started to turn the corner, with more and more players getting back into action before the trade deadline. Tyler Glasnow made his much-anticipated return on July 9th against the Brewers and followed it up with an even better performance in his second showing, also against Milwaukee, throwing six innings with just one earned run on the way to another loss. And soon, LA will have even more positive reinforcement in the form of Max Muncy and Michael Kopech, who both earned positive medical updates from The Athletic's Dabian Ardaya. 'Another positive step today for Max Muncy: he's taking ground balls right now at third base,' Ardaya wrote. 'More positive news: it looks like Michael Kopech (right knee surgery) is playing catch right now.' While Muncy's 2025 campaign hasn't been lights out, as he struggled early on at both the plate and in the field, his absence from the Dodgers' lineup has effectively taken LA's entire offense along with him, with the team struggling to score more than a few runs a game over the month of July. Where fans once wondered if Muncy was long for LA after eight seasons with the team, he now looks like a stalwart for a reason, who could benefit from a bit more pop behind him in left field. Kopech, too, has been missed by LA, with the relief pitcher turning in some good stuff before landing on IL once more with a knee injury. While he is likely a bit further away from playing than Muncy, a Kopech return later this year will only make the Dodgers' bullpen stronger, especially if he can solidify his game. With the trade deadline rapidly approaching, it's clear the Dodgers are going to upgrade their roster one way or another heading into the fall. But no matter how Andrew Friedman decides to tackle the open market, bringing back Muncy and Kopech will make LA a better team, too, assuming the latter isn't traded away in a bigger deal. Related: Shohei Ohtani ends Dodgers drought with monster HR vs. Brewers Related: Dodgers' Kiké Hernández still has no injury return timeline
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Dodgers' Max Muncy avoids disaster with initial injury update
The post Dodgers' Max Muncy avoids disaster with initial injury update appeared first on ClutchPoints. The Los Angeles Dodgers had to slightly temper their joy on an otherwise celebratory Wednesday night, which included Clayton Kershaw's 3,000th career strikeout and a thrilling walk-off win versus the Chicago White Sox, as two-time All-Star Max Muncy suffered a knee injury and exited the game. LA placed him on the injured list on Thursday, but the diagnosis is not nearly as bad as many feared. Muncy has a left knee bone bruise, per the team, which is expected to keep him out of action for approximately six weeks. Losing a powerful bat is obviously disappointing, especially since the 34-year-old third baseman just enjoyed a monster June — slashed .333/.459/.654/.1.113 — but the news could have been far worse. He avoids a season-ending injury and will ideally be back in rhythm by the time the playoffs begin. Los Angeles claimed infielder CJ Alexander off waivers and is calling up speedy outfielder Esteury Ruiz from Triple-A Oklahoma City. The Dodgers continue to play well below full force Concern was high after veteran outfielder Michael A. Taylor slid into Muncy's leg while trying to steal third base in the seventh inning of Wednesday's game. The former Gold Glove winner was called out, a regretful moment that proved costly in a 5-4 loss to the Dodgers. Manager Dave Roberts is probably unable to fully appreciate the significance of that play as it relates to the club's comeback, for he knows how important it is to maintain continuity in the lineup. LA can only withstand so many lengthy stints on the IL. Its pitching staff is vastly different than the one it planned to roll out onto the mound this season, but a star-studded and gritty crop of batters has helped the 2024 World Series champions claim the best record in baseball to this point. Max Muncy, who had been an all-or-nothing type of hitter in recent years, is a key part of the team's 2025 success. He is batting .250 with 13 home runs and 55 RBIs in 81 games. The Dodgers (55-32) will breathe a sigh of relief and hope their sizable lead in the National League West (lead San Diego Padres by eight and a half games) will help them survive Muncy's absence. They go for the series sweep of the 28-58 White Sox on Thursday night. Related: Freddie Freeman continues to terrorize White Sox with 2nd run-scoring double Related: Dodgers' Teoscar Hernandez hits career milestone vs. White Sox
Washington Post
5 days ago
- Sport
- Washington Post
Shohei Ohtani's home run streak ends at 5 games in Dodgers' win over Red Sox at Fenway Park
BOSTON — Shohei Ohtani was held homerless for the first time in a week in the Los Angeles Dodgers' 5-2 victory over the Boston Red Sox on Friday night. Ohtani struck out twice, singled, walked and hit a foul popup. His five-game home run streak leaves him tied with six other players in Dodgers history, most recently Max Muncy in 2019.
