Dodgers edge the standings again behind a vintage showing from Clayton Kershaw, while the bullpen absorbs heavy work late as five relievers cover the final three innings against San Diego. Day 1 of Life Without Muncy 2.0 ends with the Dodgers tallying only four hits, and an oblique injury to Max Muncy forcing new gaps in the lineup just 40 games from the finish. The NL West remains a two-team race, tied with the Padres, as L.A. tries to balance left-handed power with arms ready to step up in crunch moments.

Ohtani and Freeman anchor a formidable left-handed group, but three of the four Dodgers hits Friday came from the bottom of the order, highlighting how Teoscar Hernandez’s big homer could be a catalyst when the lineup needs lift. Hernandez has shown fluctuation, yet his playoff track record keeps the faith that he’ll find the necessary timing in the pennant stretch. The Padres counter with a duo of right-handed powerellers, Cease and Darvish, who loom as weekend matchup questions for a Dodgers offense that must adapt as Muncy heals and the bullpen prices remain high ahead of October play.

Dodgers claim Buddy Kennedy off waivers to add a reliable multi‑positional bat to their 40‑man roster after Max Muncy landed on the injured list with an oblique issue. Kennedy, 26, has bounced among five teams in roughly a year and has appeared in 60 MLB games since 2022, slashing .193/.288/.300 with 2 homers and 19 RBI over 140 at‑bats. His ability to play 1B/2B/3B gives Los Angeles a flexible depth option as they navigate injuries and roster needs. After Blue Jays signed him to minor league deals in July, Kennedy now lands with the Dodgers, presenting a potential benched‑depth path to occasional at‑bats and a more defined role if injuries persist.

Kennedy’s journey through Detroit, Toronto, and beyond, combined with his defensive versatility, makes him a sleeper in deeper fantasy formats. While the .193/.288/.300 line is unimpressive, Kennedy’s path to regular playing time could hinge on lineup construction and opportunistic ABs off the bench. With Muncy sidelined, Kennedy could be called upon for spot starts at first, second, or third base, especially in doubleheaders or NL Park scenarios, where his contact skills and defensive value could translate into timely RBI opportunities.

Max Muncy was placed on the 10-day injured list with a Grade 1 oblique strain after feeling a pull in batting practice. He was scratched late Wednesday, and the soreness persisted through Thursday, prompting the Dodgers to put him on the IL. Muncy had just returned from a knee hyperextension earlier in July and, since coming back, went 8-for-23 with four homers across eight games. LA has struggled, going 12-21 since July 3 while sliding from a nine-game NL West lead to a one-game deficit behind San Diego. The club hopes to get Muncy back before the regular season ends, but timing remains uncertain. In fantasy terms, his absence thins the heart of a lineup that has relied on his power, while opportunities emerge for replacements to contribute in the stretch run.

Behind the numbers, the Dodgers must navigate the next month without one of their best sluggers as the Padres close the gap in the division race. The injury elevates the value of Dodgers reserves who can pick up at-bats and slugging, and it places a premium on timely returns from Muncy or an unexpected late-season breakout from a young infielder. For fantasy players and bettors, monitoring Muncy’s return timetable, the health of his oblique, and who steps in at third (and in the lineup) will be critical to late-season projections and daily roster decisions.

Max Muncy’s oblique strain lands him on the injured list just before a pivotal series with the San Diego Padres, forcing Los Angeles to reshuffle a lineup that leaned on his power and RBI pace. The team insists the Grade 1 injury isn’t season-ending, but it will sideline him for several weeks, elevating the importance of depth pieces in a tight divisional race.

In 89 games this season, Muncy hit .258 with 17 homers and 64 RBIs, underscoring how critical his bat is to the Dodgers’ attack. The latest setback comes after a season-long reminder that his absence previously coincided with a major drop in offense. To help weather the shuffle, Los Angeles claimed Buddy Kennedy off waivers from the Toronto Blue Jays, bolstering infield depth as they navigate the Muncy vacancy.

Kennedy’s arrival adds a versatile option for infield coverage as the Dodgers aim to maintain offensive momentum. The Blue Jays, meanwhile, part with a young infielder who could provide the Dodgers a flexible fallback in the short term. The Padres loom as a true stress test for the lineup shuffle, making this a high-stakes moment for fantasy managers tracking Dodgers contributors and the depth options around them.

For fantasy rosters, the immediate implication is a potential dip in 3B production and run-scoring upside while Kennedy and others adjust to new roles. If Muncy returns within the anticipated weeks but not promptly, the Dodgers’ middle-of-the-order stability could hinge on timely contributions from Kennedy and the infield depth, shaping short-term projections and matchup-driven decisions.

Five targetable home run props headline Thunder Dan’s MLB picks for 8/13/2025. Colson Montgomery opens at +420 for over 0.5 HR as he faces the Detroit rookie Troy Melton; Matt Wallner tabs +290 for over 0.5 HR with a power-friendly matchup against the Yankees’ Cam Schlittler; Juan Soto sits at +260 in Citi Field versus Carlos Carrasco as he works to sustain recent mammoth form; Max Muncy checks in at +330 against Kyle Hendricks with a sinker-heavy plan; Brandon Lowe at +330 in his lefty-friendly Sacramento park edge against J.T. Ginn caps the slate.

Strategy factors include batted-ball metrics, lefty-righty splits, weather and park factors, and favorable pricing. The picks avoid the obvious slam-dunks and target longer odds to maximize upside in a round-robin format. Each prop leans on recent hot streaks, advantageous matchups, and specific pitcher tendencies to carve out value rather than chase contrarian bets.