Max Muncy returns to Dodgers lineup after 23-game absence, aiming to boost struggling team

LOS ANGELES AP Max Muncy was back in the Los Angeles Dodgers lineup on Monday night after missing games with an oblique injury The scuffling NL West leaders hope he brings an offensive punch that s been missing Muncy is hitting with home runs and RBI in games The third baseman had been on the injured list since Aug his second IL stint of the season He was out a month over July and August with a left knee bone bruise It s a big boost manager Dave Roberts declared before the meeting We ve been waiting for this one for a long time not to add any pressure to Max Muncy and his left-handed bat were fourth in the batting order against Colorado behind Shohei Ohtani Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman The body feels in a good spot he noted before the competition This is kind of one of those rare rehab assignments where you re not entirely worried about results You re just more worried about how is your body coming out of it The Dodgers were - on their East Coast swing including a stunning - loss at Baltimore after Yoshinobu Yamamoto was an out from Major League Baseball s first no-hitter this season I was watching every single inning and it s a tough one to come back from when there s no off-day Muncy disclosed But that s why I ve invariably stated we got to keep our focus just one day at a time If we get an entire group of guys buying into that then I m going to feel pretty good about our chances The Dodgers took a one-game lead over second-place San Diego into Monday night s series opener against the last-place Rockies They trailed Philadelphia by four games for the National League s No seed with the NL East leaders set to visit Los Angeles next week The Dodgers were - in their last having struggled against last-place Pittsburgh and Baltimore Time s running out to climb out of it Muncy disclosed The only group that we need to be worrying about is ourselves With Muncy back catcher Chuckie Robinson was optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City AP MLB https apnews com MLB Source