![\"Dodgers](\"https:\/\/wp.clutchpoints.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Max-Muncy-cover.jpg?w=1200\")
<\/p>\nThe\u00a0Los Angeles Dodgers got a much-needed boost Monday night\u00a0as veteran slugger\u00a0Max Muncy returned to the lineup after a month-long stint\u00a0on the injured list. His comeback comes at a critical time, with versatile infielder\/outfielder\u00a0Tommy Edman\u00a0expected to be sidelined once again due to a recurring ankle injury.<\/p>\n
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\u201cHe\u2019s back!\u201d the Dodgers announced on X, revealing Muncy\u2019s name\u00a0in the starting lineup\u00a0at third base for the series opener against the St. Louis Cardinals at Dodger Stadium. Muncy, who had been out since July 3 with a bone bruise in his left knee, was reinstated from the 60-day IL just hours before first pitch and slotted back into his usual spot at the hot corner.Meanwhile, Edman\u2019s absence casts a shadow over the Dodgers’ infield depth.<\/p>\n
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The 30-year-old utility man re-aggravated the same right ankle that forced him out of action earlier this season \u2014 this time while rounding first base during Sunday\u2019s win over the Tampa Bay Rays. It was eerily similar to an incident last week against the Red Sox, where he limped off under nearly identical circumstances.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a recurrence of what he\u2019s been dealing with,\u201d manager Dave Roberts said postgame. \u201cI just don\u2019t see how it\u2019s not an IL [trip].\u201d Roberts indicated that Muncy\u2019s return made the roster move a \u201cnatural\u201d one-for-one swap.<\/p>\n
Edman, who\u2019s slashing .226\/.280\/.395 with 12 home runs and 44 RBIs through 85 games, has struggled to regain his early-season form since his lower-body injuries started piling up. While his bat hasn\u2019t been hot, his ability to play multiple positions \u2014 including second base, shortstop, and all three outfield spots \u2014 has made him an invaluable piece for the Dodgers, especially with injuries already limiting Hyeseong Kim and Kike Hernandez.<\/p>\n
With Edman likely IL-bound, the Dodgers will lean on Miguel Rojas and Alex Freeland to share duties at second base. Rojas got the nod Monday night and hit ninth in the lineup, while Muncy returned to the five-hole behind Will Smith.<\/p>\n
The Dodgers\u2019 lineup otherwise remained intact, with Shohei Ohtani leading off as the designated hitter and Mookie Betts again batting second despite his recent slump. Tyler Glasnow took the mound for Los Angeles, coming in with a 2.45 ERA in his last four starts since returning from the IL. He faced off against Cardinals ace Sonny Gray, who shut out the Dodgers over 6.1 innings back in June.<\/p>\n
While Muncy\u2019s bat provides some much-needed pop, Edman\u2019s absence will still be felt \u2014 especially on defense and in late-game versatility. The Dodgers are hoping Edman\u2019s time away is short, but with two injuries to the same ankle in the span of a week, caution will be key heading into the final playoff push.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The\u00a0Los Angeles Dodgers got a much-needed boost Monday night\u00a0as veteran slugger\u00a0Max Muncy returned to the lineup after a month-long stint\u00a0on the injured list. His comeback comes at… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":77667,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-77663","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mlb"],"yoast_head":"\n