The Los Angeles Dodgers have had an up-and-down season yet still find themselves sitting in first place atop the NL West entering Saturday, with the San Diego Padres two games behind.
The Dodgers' offense has been playing shorthanded recently as All-Star third baseman Max Muncy has been sidelined with an oblique injury since August 15—his second injured list stint of the year.
Although the 35-year-old veteran has been banged up this season, he's still been an important part of the offense, slashing .258/.389/.880 with 17 home runs and 64 RBIs in 89 games.
Muncy has been trending up and participating in baseball activities, with a return to the active roster against the Baltimore Orioles next weekend being a realistic possibility.
Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy (13)© Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Max Muncy Injury Update
Manager Dave Roberts revealed that Muncy had a minor setback on Friday and is dealing with a sickness that has delayed his rehab progress.
On Saturday, ahead of the second game of a three-game set against the Arizona Diamondbacks , Roberts confirmed that Muncy was still at home to avoid getting any of his teammates sick.
The Dodgers will hope that Muncy's illness is as minor as Roberts suggests, as they cannot afford further delays—his return to the lineup is crucial down the stretch.
Muncy has long been a face of the franchise as the team's prized reclamation project, and he's played a major role in the Dodgers' World Series titles in 2020 and 2024.
Throughout his ten-year career, Muncy has collected two All-Star appearances, and his peak saw him in NL MVP conversations with multiple top-15 finishes.
In Muncy's absence, rookie Alex Freeland and veteran Enrique Hernandez have filled the void at third base.
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Aug 30, 2025, where it first appeared in the MLB section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

