The Los Angeles Dodgers have claimed infielder Buddy Kennedy off waivers from the Blue Jays, per Dodger Blue. Proper-hander Julian Fernández has been designated for task because the corresponding 40-man transfer. Toronto designated Kennedy for task final week. Supervisor Dave Roberts says that Kennedy will bounce proper onto the lively roster as third baseman Max Muncy goes on the 10-day injured listing as a consequence of a grade 1 indirect pressure, per Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic.
Muncy was scratched from Wednesday’s lineup as a consequence of proper facet soreness. The membership was off Thursday, and it appears additional testing has decided that he wants not less than a little bit of a breather. It’s not clear precisely how lengthy that breather can be.
“I don’t suppose anyone expects it to be season-ending, however hopefully it’s sooner quite than later,” Roberts mentioned, per Alden Gonzalez of ESPN.
It’s an unlucky improvement for the Dodgers. It’s been an actual up-and-down season for Muncy however he’s been in good kind these days. He began the yr ice chilly, slashing .190/.313/.286 by Could twelfth. Since then, he’s been crimson scorching, hitting .314/.447/.660. That heater was interrupted by a monthlong stint on the IL as a consequence of a bone bruise in his left knee however that didn’t decelerate his manufacturing. He got here off the IL a bit of over every week in the past and produced a .348/.531/.870 line in eight video games between IL stints.
Regardless of Muncy’s manufacturing, the Dodgers have been in a little bit of a skid these days. They went 10-14 in July and are 5-7 to date in August. In the meantime, the Padres have gone on a tear and have taken over the lead within the American League West. The 2 golf equipment begin a collection in opposition to one another in Los Angeles tonight. Shedding one in all their hottest hitters is clearly lower than splendid for the Dodgers as they transfer into the stretch run. Ideally, Muncy can return pretty shortly, however indirect accidents are notoriously tough.
It’s additionally not nice when contemplating the membership’s bigger infield image. Enrique Hernández, Tommy Edman and Hyeseong Kim are additionally on the IL, leaving the membership a bit skinny in that division. Alex Freeland will possible step in because the common third baseman with Miguel Rojas taking on the keystone. The one wholesome place participant on the 40-man roster who’s on elective task is outfielder Esteury Ruiz.
Claiming Kennedy offers the Dodgers a bench infielder, one thing they’d have in any other case lacked. The 26-year-old has loads of intriguing numbers within the minors however hasn’t but clicked within the majors. That has led to him exhausting his choices, which has pushed him into journeyman territory. Over the previous few years, he has suited up for the Diamondbacks, Tigers, Phillies and Blue Jays. He has stepped to the plate 163 instances scattered over the 4 most up-to-date seasons however with only a .193/.288/.300 line to point out for it.
As talked about, his minor league work has been higher. Courting again to the beginning of 2023, he has 1,262 Triple-A plate appearances. His 13.9% stroll price and 17.1% strikeout price in that point are each stable figures. He produced a mixed .284/.395/.443 line and 116 wRC+ over that span whereas enjoying all 4 infield spots and a little bit of left area as nicely. Since he’s out of choices, he might solely maintain his roster spot for so long as it takes for another person to come back off the IL. However he was on the market on the wire once they wanted an infielder, so he’ll get a shot with the Dodgers now.
Fernandez, 29, signed a minor league take care of the Dodgers within the offseason. He was chosen to the 40-man roster on July 7. He pitched two innings that day, permitting two earned runs, and was optioned again all the way down to Triple-A the subsequent day.
His main league monitor report remains to be restricted, as he had simply six appearances previous to his one with the Dodgers this yr, however he’s been in good kind in Triple-A this season. He has tossed 41 1/3 innings with the Oklahoma Metropolis Comets, pitching within the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League, with a 3.05 earned run common, 8.8% stroll price and 28.7% strikeout price.
With the commerce deadline having handed, Fernandez will find yourself on waivers. He can nonetheless be optioned for the remainder of this yr and one extra season. Given his numbers this yr and the truth that he might be stashed within the minors, it’s doable he will get claimed within the coming week by a membership looking for further bullpen depth.
