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The Los Angeles Dodgers are facing off against the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday, looking to avoid being swept in the entire six-game season series.
Shortstop Mookie Betts was initially left out of the lineup on Wednesday. However, the Dodgers then released an updated lineup that included Betts but not Max Muncy.
Read more: Dodgers Scratch Max Muncy From Lineup, Mookie Betts Starting at Shortstop vs Angels
Why is Max Muncy Out for Dodgers vs Angels?
Manager Dave Roberts revealed that Muncy is dealing with pain in his right side that popped up while he was doing pregame cage work. Roberts said Muncy is considered day to day, but is undergoing more testing on Thursday’s off day.
“Initially I had Mookie having a scheduled day off,” Roberts said, “and then Max went into the cage today to start his routine and then felt a little soreness in his side, in his right side. We just felt that, talking to the training staff, to err on the side of caution.”
An injury to Muncy would be one of the worst-case scenarios for the Dodgers, as he just got back after missing a little over a month with a knee injury.
More news: Dodgers’ Andrew Friedman Feels Good About Roster Heading Into Stretch Run, NL West Race
The Dodgers lineup is completely different with and without Muncy. In 89 games with Muncy, the Dodgers average 5.79 runs per game. In 31 games without Muncy, the Dodgers average just 3.42 runs per game.
Is Max Muncy’s Injury The Same Oblique He Dealt With Last Year?
Roberts said Muncy’s injury is “not the same as last year.” He added that Muncy feels it’s “not muscular.”
Muncy missed three months last season with the oblique injury.
Mookie Betts Returns to Lineup
As for Betts, he has been mired in a season-long slump but has finally started to show signs of breaking out of it. He has a hit in seven straight games, and is hitting .400 (12-for-30) in that stretch.
Photo Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
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