It’s been an odyssey this year for the Los Angeles Dodgers and star third baseman Max Muncy. After a brutal start to the season that had the Dodgers evaluating other options, Muncy bounced back in a big way. And then the injuries came.

Muncy missed a little over a month with a bruised knee, and then, in what seemed like the blink of an eye, landed back on the IL, this time with a strained oblique. The Dodgers’ offense has suffered mightily thanks to his absence.

Since Muncy started wearing glasses on April 30, the slugger has slashed .295/.430/.611 with 17 homers. Perhaps most impressively, he’s been walking at a 19% clip compared to a strikeout rate of just 16% over that time period. And now, the Dodgers are getting some good news with Muncy beginning a rehab assignment, making his return imminent.

Max Muncy’s return will bring clarity to the Dodgers’ infield and stability to the lineup

Muncy is just one of many Dodgers infielders to be bitten by the injury bug in recent weeks, which has led to a lot of shuffling and not a lot in the way of results.

Since July 1, with Muncy mostly out of the lineup, LA’s lineup has scuffled, scoring just 199 runs, which is good for 21st in the league over that time period. The Dodgers have looked for sparks elsewhere, such as calling up No. 3 prospect Alex Freeland, but have not found much in the way of results.

Freeland, 24, hasn’t completely disappointed, but his .226/.342/.387 line is a far cry from what Muncy was producing for the Dodgers. Another player getting a lot of run in recent weeks has been veteran Miguel Rojas. Again, like Freeland, Rojas hasn’t been bad with a 97 wRC+ this season, but he hasn’t been a difference maker either.

In a desperate move in response to Muncy’s latest ailment, the Dodgers turned to the waiver wire to claim Buddy Kennedy, who has struggled mightily and should not be long for the team.

Once Muncy’s back in the fold, he can handle the hot corner on a full-time basis, giving the Dodgers the ability to only have to worry about second base in terms of reliable production in the infield. Freeland and Rojas can factor into the mix there, but Hyeseong Kim and Kiké Hernández will as well, as they make their own returns to action.

Everything hinges on Muncy, however. He’s the impact bat that can provide some thump and then allows for Dave Roberts to mix-and-match at second in an attempt to drive optimal results. So while it might not have appeared so in the early going, Max Muncy will be a critical piece to the Dodgers putting it all together down the stretch.