As the Los Angeles Dodgers prepare to face the Cincinnati Reds in the National League Wild Card Series starting Tuesday, questions surrounding key players’ health continue to swirl. Despite another blockbuster offseason and entering the playoffs as heavy favorites, Los Angeles has faced a season punctuated by injuries to core contributors.
Muncy’s Injury History and Uncertainty
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All-Star third baseman Max Muncy has had a tumultuous 2025 campaign. He began the season struggling at the plate, hitting just .188 over his first 30 games. A combination of astigmatism addressed with prescription glasses and careful adjustments helped him find his groove, producing a slash line of .295/.432/.596 with a 1.027 OPS between his 31st game and an oblique injury in August.
Muncy has battled multiple injuries this season, including a bone bruise in his left knee and a strained right oblique, as well as bruising from being hit by pitches three times in nine days. “Muncy has been vague about what he’s dealing with, noting that there are ‘a lot of issues going on,’” Sonja Chen of MLB.com reported.
Conflicting Updates
Despite these challenges, Muncy confirmed on Monday that he would be available for Game 1 against the Reds. “Everything feels good. I’ll be available for tomorrow,” he told reporters. Yet, his recent struggles indicate lingering concerns. Since returning from the oblique injury and before a leg bruise sidelined him, Muncy hit just .118 over 11 games, striking out 10 times with an OPS of .562.
Why Muncy Remains Crucial
Even with the setbacks, Muncy ended the regular season with a career-best batting average of .243 and an OPS+ of 136. He also excelled in plate discipline, finishing in the 99th percentile in walk rate (16.5%) and the 94th percentile in limiting swings at pitches outside the strike zone.
If Muncy can regain the form he displayed since May, the Dodgers stand to benefit tremendously in the postseason. His combination of patience, power, and situational hitting makes him a central figure for Los Angeles’ hopes of repeating as World Series champions, even amid lingering injury concerns.
The upcoming Wild Card matchup will test not just Muncy’s durability, but the Dodgers’ depth and resilience as they aim to advance against a surging Reds team and ultimately face the Philadelphia Phillies in the NLDS.