The Riverside Press-Enterprise
Muncy has Grade 2 hamstring strain, could avoid injured list
LOS ANGELES >> The Dodgers’ optimism about injuries has not always been rewarded. But they’re going down that road again.
An MRI on Max Muncy’s injured left hamstring Wednesday revealed a Grade 2 strain. But the Dodgers are not putting him on the injured list, yet choosing instead to wait as long as possible before they can no longer backdate a move to see how quickly Muncy recovers.
“I think where we sit today, the hope is he’ll be in there on Saturday,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “But that could change if it gets better, or if we have to kind of reassess.
“I think doing that (putting Muncy on the IL) right now would be a little overreacting. I think that today is much better than it was yesterday. And so if we can take it day to day and see where we’re at come Friday.”
Michael Busch has been on a tear with Triple-a Oklahoma City. He hit his fourth home run in five games Tuesday and is batting .471 with a 1.059 OPS in June. But Roberts said Chris Taylor will handle third base and the Dodgers will likely play short-handed for the next few games.
“I think that where we’re at, the versatility of the bench, I don’t think we’re pressed right now,” Roberts said. “But once we get to Friday, thinking about days that we potentially could ... lose as far as backdating, we’ll probably make a decision at that point.”
Muncy missed a game after injuring the same hamstring on May 28 in Tampa. But Roberts said that was in a different location. This injury is low on the hamstring, behind Muncy’s knee.
Urias progress
Left-hander Julio Urias threw a bullpen session Wednesday afternoon, his first time throwing off a mound since experiencing a setback last week in his recovery from a hamstring injury.
“As far as effort, it was as much effort as he’s put into a ‘pen in any ‘pen session,” Roberts said.
The plan is for Urias to throw another bullpen session in a few days, possibly simulating inning breaks. He is expected to go on a minorleague injury-rehabilitation assignment at some point before rejoining the Dodgers’ rotation.
Relief work
Veteran relievers Daniel Hudson and Jimmy Nelson each pitched an inning for the Dodgers’ team in the Arizona Complex League. For Hudson, it was his third appearance in the ACL since starting a rehab assignment. He has pitched three scoreless innings with five strikeouts and one hit allowed. For Nelson, it was his second appearance in the ACL since re-starting his rehab assignment. Nelson has thrown two scoreless innings with two strikeouts, a walk and one hit allowed.
Another reliever with big-league experience, right-hander Ryan Brasier, was assigned to Triple-a Oklahoma City this week and made his first appearance, pitching a scoreless inning for OKC on Wednesday. Brasier, 35, was released by the Boston Red Sox last month after going 0-1 with a 7.29 ERA. The Dodgers signed him to a minor-league contract.
Also
Roberts said rookie right-hander Bobby Miller will get extra rest and make his next start on Saturday against the San Francisco Giants. Friday will be a bullpen game . ... Right-hander Shelby Miller rejoined the team on Wednesday and was activated from the bereavement list. Lefthander Adam Kolarek was designated for assignment. Kolarek made one appearance with the Dodgers, pitching 1 1/3 scoreless innings as part of Sunday’s bullpen game in Philadelphia.