In the first 35 games Muncy missed with an oblique strain, his replacements batted .168 with just two home runs and seven RBIs.
CHICAGO — Something has been lacking from the Dodgers’ lineup since Max Muncy went on the injured list with a strained oblique muscle.
“It lacks potential slug,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said, starting the list. “It lacks a guy who’s going to get on base 38% of the time. It lacks just the consistency of the left-right to kind of vary it whether it’s (versus) the starter or the bullpen. Just that continuity, one through six.”
Muncy was hitting just .223 when he went on the IL a little more than a month ago. But the Dodgers averaged 5.3 runs per game with him and have averaged just 4.7 per game since (compounded by the loss of Mookie Betts eight games ago).
Muncy is also second (to Will Smith) on the team in pitches seen per plate appearance (4.10), an element that has been missing particularly in the second half of the lineup. Having Muncy in the lineup adds a home run threat and Roberts said “it puts guys, in my opinion, in their rightful parts of the lineup,” Roberts said.
“It just adds a little bit more length,” Roberts said. “Instead, we’ve been piecemealing the five, six (spot in the lineup) and trying to beat the starter. Where you just know that having a guy like Max in there, versus left, versus right, when he’s in there they have to approach our lineup differently.”
Muncy’s replacements at third base have offered very little offensively. In 35 games through Monday, Kiké Hernandez (22 starts), Cavan Biggio (seven), Miguel Rojas (four) and Chris Taylor (two) combined to hit .168 with just five extra-base hits (three doubles and two home runs) and seven RBIs.
Muncy could start swinging a bat this week, Roberts said. But he was moved to the 60-day IL last week and will not be eligible to return until after the All-Star break.
Teoscar Hernandez rejoined the Dodgers in Chicago on Tuesday afternoon after spending, by his estimate, about 18 hours on planes over the past few days in order to attend his grandfather’s funeral in the Dominican Republic.
Hernandez’s grandfather on his mother’s side was 94 years old and in failing health.
“It’s almost like we were expecting that. Now he’s just resting in peace,” Hernandez said. “At that point, you’re waiting for it but still – it’s part of your family. You’re going to miss them no matter how old they are. But that’s the way life goes. Life continues. You have to continue. You have to keep doing your thing.”
Hernandez was not in the starting lineup Tuesday, Roberts electing to give him a day to recover.
Roberts went to right-hander Yohan Ramirez to protect a two-run lead in the seventh inning Monday night, an indication Ramirez might be earning a more prominent role in the bullpen. He retired the side in order, striking out one.
Acquired after he had been designated for assignment twice already this season, Ramirez struggled in his first two appearances with the Dodgers. In 15⅔ innings since then, he has a 1.72 ERA and has held batters to a .192 average with 15 strikeouts and four walks.
“The stuff has always been good enough. It’s just not in the zone enough,” Roberts said of Ramirez, who has been with seven teams in five major-league seasons. “But he has been in the zone. He gets some funky swings, some soft contact. I just love his energy. He’ll do anything I ask of him. He’s very resilient, so he bounces back really well.”
Roberts said right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto is recovering well but has not started a throwing program yet. Yamamoto is on the IL with a strained rotator cuff.
Dodgers (RHP Gavin Stone, 8-2, 3.04 ERA) at White Sox (RHP Erick Fedde, 5-2. 3.05 ERA), Wednesday, 5:10 p.m., SportsNet LA, 570 AM
