By Earl Heath, Contributing Sports Writer
The Dodgers had good news and bad news on the injury report last week. In a game against the San Francisco giants ace pitcher Walker Buehler was pulled after tossing only 70 pitches due to elbow discomfort. After having an MRI it was found to be an elbow strain. According to skipper Dave Roberts “It won’t require surgery” but the right hander will miss six to eight weeks.
That’s and big deal for Los Angeles. “To lose him in this capacity is a big blow,” said Roberts. “I think the guys understand and know there’s going to be more asked of them.”
So far this season the 27 year-old has a 4.02 ERA and 3.84 FIP in 12 starts, with a career-low 21.2-percent strikeout rate. Over his last six starts, Buehler allowed 22 runs in 28⅓ innings.
The Dodgers fell to the Giants in the series opener 7-2 and were swept in the three game series. Clayton Kershaw also returned to the mound for the first time in a month. He pitched four innings giving up two runs. The lefty looked solid as he retired the side in order in the first and third. Then put out a fire with runners-on-the-corner jam in the fourth. And he was removed only because he’d surpassed his predetermined pitch count of 70. “Overall felt great,” Kershaw said. “Good to be back out there.” Max Muncy also returned to the Dodger line up last in Chicago. He missed two weeks due to elbow inflammation. It was the same one that the 31 year-old injured in October of 2021. With two outs and a 1-2 count on Trea Turner, White Sox manager Tony LaRussa opted to intentionally walk him to get to Muncy.
LaRussa got the matchup he wanted, with the left-handed Bennett Sousa facing the lefty Muncy. His at-bat also got to two strikes, and on the fifth pitch Muncy drove a ball to left center for his first home run since May 4.
That snapped a string of 80 straight plate appearances without a home run for Muncy, who drove in three runs in the 19 games in between home runs.
He added a double knocking in two more and finished the day with five knocking in five. That helped the “men in blue” overcome the White Sox 11-9
The five RBI’s are the most by L.A. since Mookie Betts drove in five on May 7 against the CUBS. Freddy Freeman drove in five on May 26 against the D-backs. All three five-RBI games were on the road.
The team has lost the last four of six games (at press time). They have a big freeway series this week with the Angels who are recovering from a team worst 14 game losing streak.
