Max Muncy is back in the Los Angeles Dodgers lineup for the second game against the Arizona Diamondbacks tonight, fresh off a Friday rest day, but it is Shohei Ohtani's lingering knee injury that is the real headline for LA. Ohtani was pulled from his start on Friday because of it, yet he's still in the batting order, and that's got to make you wonder just how much pain he's pushing through.
Banged-Up Batters And A Question Mark Knee
Muncy's return is big, especially since he's been getting "banged up" during the first half of the season, taking a "good number of knocks." The Dodgers are clearly trying to be careful, giving him rest, but with an All-Star Game appearance coming up on Tuesday, Muncy won't get a typical break. You gotta respect the grind, but you also worry about the wear and tear. When it comes to Ohtani, the situation feels a lot more serious. The man is "managing a knee injury" and got yanked from his start on Friday. While he "stayed in the batting order" for that game and "remains there on Saturday as expected," it's a major red flag. How long can a two-way superstar manage a knee injury while still hitting? Tonight, the Dodgers are throwing out their lefty lineup against Arizona's righty, Brandon Pfaadt. Ohtani, Freddie Freeman, and Muncy are set to be the "featured players," along with Kyle Tucker. Keep an eye on Andy Pages, too, who's "trying to keep his momentum going after a great night on Friday."Ace On The Mound, But Where's The Dodgers Offense?
The Dodgers definitely need that offense to click, because their last game was a bit of a head-scratcher. They scored "two runs in the first and not another one until the ninth inning" on Friday. That's just not going to cut it, even if they had a bullpen game. Luckily for LA, they're getting their ace, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, on the bump tonight. This guy has been "amazing since his command sharpened up over his last handful of starts." When he's "painting and mixing things up," hitters are "at his mercy." With a 2.49 ERA in 16 games and 104.2 innings, he's been lights out. The Diamondbacks took advantage of a Dodgers bullpen that was "missing its spots" on Friday, but they shouldn't expect that tonight. Pfaadt, for Arizona, has been shaky all year with a 4.84 ERA, bouncing between starts and relief appearances. This means LA has "the perfect chance to get back on track offensively." With their ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto on the bump and Muncy back in the fold, the Dodgers are absolutely looking to light up the scoreboard tonight after that anemic offensive showing. Can they finally get that offense rolling and take control of this series against Arizona? We'll be watching every pitch!This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.