The Los Angeles Dodgers have scratched Dalton Rushing and Max Muncy from the lineup just two hours ahead of Saturday's game against the Washington Nationals.
Alex Call was originally tabbed to take Rushing's spot at DH, but he and left fielder Teoscar Hernández swapped spots in another lineup update six minutes later. In that same update, it was also announced that Kiké Hernández would start at third base in place of Muncy. Shohei Ohtani also remains out for his third consecutive game.
The team has yet to give a reason for either last-minute change, though Rushing reportedly was pulled after throwing on the field pregame, according to the OC Register's Bill Plunkett. He was originally scratched for the same reason on Aug. 2 with what Dodgers brass
referred to as "irritation" at the time, only for an MRI to reveal a partially torn UCL in his right elbow. Rushing returned early last week, forgoing a rehab assignment entirely in a surprise move to many. The 25-year-old is unable to catch, so he's been available strictly as a lefty bat off the bench. He's pinch-hit in each of the Dodgers' four games since his return and has hit 0-for-4 with three strikeouts.
Muncy, on the other hand, has been relatively injury-free this season for the first time in years. He's been one of the Dodgers' most reliable hitters this season, posting a .826 OPS with 26 home runs through 130 games -- the most he's played since 2023. He was also named to the NL All-Star team this summer for the first time in five years and became Dodger Stadium's all-time leader in homers. However, Muncy has struggled as of late along with most of the Dodgers' offense, as he's hit just 1-for-22 over his last eight games.
Shohei Ohtani injury update
Dave Roberts told reporters Ohtani was set to hit in the cage on Saturday for the first time in a few days. He expects to talk with the two-way phenom on Sunday to see how he feels coming out of it, and that conversation will factor into whether Ohtani will need an IL stint or not.
Dodgers lineup vs. Washington Nationals for Saturday, Sept. 5
Here's what LA's batting order now looks like after late scratches to Muncy and Rushing:
- Tommy Edman, CF
- Freddie Freeman, 1B
- Mookie Betts, SS
- Kyle Tucker, RF
- Teoscar Hernández, DH
- Hunter Feduccia, C
- Alex Freeland, 2B
- Alex Call, LF
- Kiké Hernández, 3B
Tyler Glasnow will get the start on the mound.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Dodgers removes Max Muncy, Dalton Rushing from lineup amid injury concerns
