Dodgers: Max Muncy Has Developed Into a Must Start Player for LA

The Dodgers have made it a habit of finding surprise contributors over the past few seasons.  This year has been no different with Max Muncy developing into a must-start player.

The Dodgers have found their Chris Taylor of the 2018 season in Max Muncy.  Muncy was signed to a minor league deal by the Dodgers last April in a move that could pay big dividends this season.  Muncy only got fourteen at-bats for the Dodgers in the spring but did enough to catch the eye of Manager Dave Roberts which led to his call-up early on this season, as a result, of Justin Turner’s injury.

After last night’s homer, Muncy has hit eleven home runs this season to go along with a .268/.385/.979 slash line.  Over his past thirty games, Max Muncy has hit 295 with an on-base percentage over 400 and nine of his eleven home runs.  As Muncy has gotten more starts he has gotten into his groove and has now reached the point where he is a must-start for the Dodgers.

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The Dodgers should be able to find plenty of playing time for Muncy due to Justin Turner’s wrist soreness.  Turner is likely going to sit out one to two games a week at least which will provide Muncy with two starts at third base.  If the Dodgers give Matt Kemp and Yasiel Puig one day off a week then Joc Pederson will play left field, Bellinger will play center, and Muncy can start at first base in those games.

Dave Roberts has mentioned recently that Muncy could see time at second base and Muncy has been taking grounders at second during warmups.  The last time Max played second base was in 2017 with the Oklahoma City Dodgers and Muncy fared well committing no errors in almost seventy innings of work.  With Logan Forsythe struggling offensively the Dodgers could make Muncy their every day second baseman if Logan doesn’t turn it around soon and Mad Max continues to hit well.

The National League has plenty of very good third baseman yet Muncy currently ranks fourth with eleven home runs despite getting fewer plate appearances than some of the big name third baseman like Kris Bryant.  Muncy doesn’t qualify for the leaderboards at the moment but out of all third baseman in the National League, Muncy has the highest slugging percentage and OPS.

Next: Joc proving the doubters wrong

It remains to be seen how long Muncy can keep up this level of play but the injury-riddled Dodgers will be sure to ride it out as long as they can.  Muncy’s play has gotten better as he settles in and he always seems to put up a tough at-bat.  He may put up the toughest at-bat of any current Dodger.  On Saturday night, Muncy drew three walks and his plate discipline continues to be one of his strengths.  While an All-Star appearance won’t be in the cards for Mad Max, a starting spot on the 2018 Dodgers should be a given.