During his pregame media briefing on Monday afternoon, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts was asked about the status of several of his rehabbing players – more specifically, about soon-to-be two-time All-Star first baseman Max Muncy (right oblique strain), two-time All-Star outfielder Cody Bellinger, (left hamstring tightness), and left-handed reliever Scott Alexander (left shoulder inflammation) – and the news was encouraging … very encouraging.

“They both took simulated at-bats from Alexander [on Monday]; all three came out of it well,” Roberts said. “I expect Max to be in the lineup [on Tuesday], and expect Cody to be in there Wednesday. And Scotty, he’ll be back when he’s eligible sometime the first couple days in July.”

When Muncy was placed on the 10-day IL on June 12, he was slashing .264 / .418 / .528 / .947, with a team-leading 14 home runs and a National League-leading 46 walks.

When Bellinger was placed on the 10-day IL on June 15, he was slashing a very un-Bellinger-like .226 / .324 / .323 / .647 with only one home run.

As for Alexander, when he went down on May 6 (retroactive to May 3), he had a 2.31 ERA and 63.2-percent ground-ball rate in 13 appearances out of the Dodgers bullpen this season, with left-handers hitting just .120 (3-for-25) against him.

The biggest concern for Dodger fans, and understandably so, is whether or not it is wise to activate Muncy and Bellinger from injuries that have a history of taking much longer to heal. That being said, if the pair are indeed fully recovered from the respective injuries, their respective returns can’t happen soon enough – especially with two more games against the NL West third-place San Diego Padres on Tuesday and Wednesday at Petco Park and an extremely crucial two-game series against the NL West-leading San Francisco Giants next Monday and Tuesday at Dodger Stadium.

Roberts added that 2020 World Series MVP and two-time All-Star shortstop Corey Seager, who suffered a fractured fifth metacarpal in his right hand when hit by a pitch on May 15, could possibly be sent out on rehab assignment as early as this Friday.

“He’ll probably go out at the end the of the week,” Roberts said. “We haven’t determined where, but we’re talking Friday or Saturday; something like that potentially.”

Play Ball!

  *  *  *  *  *  *