The Los Angeles Dodgers are 39-26, in second place of the National League West division.
They are still in the thick of things, but there is no doubt that they have been affected by injuries to this point.
Corey Seager is currently out, and other crucial performers have missed time.
However, here are the most impactful injuries for the Dodgers so far in 2021.
3. Max Muncy
Max Muncy is an invaluable piece for the Dodgers, capable of playing all over the infield except for shortstop.
The 30-year-old left-handed hitter is currently on the 10-day injured list after suffering an oblique injury on Friday.
His injury was diagnosed as a right oblique strain, and as George Springer and Luke Voit have shown this season, it’s an ailment that can linger for at least a couple of weeks, possibly longer.
Muncy has been a key cog for the Dodgers this season, batting .264 with 40 runs scored, 14 home runs, 33 RBI, and an incredible .946 OPS.
Right now, the team will miss his production given that Seager, another crucial injury, is also on the shelf, and the lineup suffers without those two.
Current estimates point out to Muncy being out until late June or early July if he experiences no setbacks.
2. Cody Bellinger
Cody Bellinger’s numbers this season don’t look particularly good: a .226 average, 12 runs, only one homer, 10 RBI, a steal, and a .647 OPS.
However, he has only played a handful of games because of a hairline fracture in his left fibula that took weeks to heal.
Most "hairline" fractures in the fibula (the smaller of the 2 shin bones) will take 6-8 weeks to heal but will vary based on the location of the injury & demands of each athlete. Long-term issues are extremely rare for someone like Cody Bellinger. #Dodgers #Bellinger #Hairline https://t.co/uEHX2GeVvI
— Dr. Nirav Pandya, MD (@DrNiravPandya) April 17, 2021
And just when he was starting to get into a little groove at the plate (he has four hits in his last eight at-bats, with three runs, an RBI and a 1/1 BB/K ratio), he injured his hamstring.
There is still time for Bellinger to salvage his season and perform like an MVP, an award he has won in the past.
But first, he needs to return to action and shake off the injury bug.
He was expected to return on Sunday, but he said that his hamstring “didn’t feel right”.
Being soft tissue injuries, hamstrings tend to have a very high risk of re-aggravation, so the Dodgers will likely take things slow with Bellinger just to ensure he is back to 100 percent soon.
1. Dustin May
Dustin May broke out last year with the Dodgers, finishing the 2020 season with a 2.57 ERA and a 1.09 WHIP.
However, he struck out just 44 hitters in 56 innings, and his tendency to pitch into contact often led to trouble.
He took the next step this season, and was having a terrific year through five starts: a 2.74 ERA, a 0.96 WHIP, and 35 whiffs in 23 frames.
However, the worst happened on May 1.
He had to leave his start after making a pitch and immediately grabbing his right arm in pain.
That week, it was discovered he had UCL damage and underwent Tommy John surgery.
#Dodgers announce Dustin May will undergo right elbow UCL reconstruction surgery on May 11.
— Juan Toribio (@juanctoribio) May 3, 2021
For the Dodgers, it was a huge blow that decimated their depth.
The team is well-covered, but May was having a breakout season and will now have to wait until the summer of 2022 (perhaps 2023) to pitch in the bigs again.
NEXT: 3 Reasons Dodgers Fans Should Be Furious In 2021