"My body just hasn't cooperated" - Dodgers star Max Muncy provides injury update on his ailing oblique

It's been a frustrating season for veteran slugger Max Muncy, as an oblique injury has limited him to only 40 games this year. Muncy has been sidelined since May 17 after sustaining a Grade 1 right oblique strain, which eventually landed him on the 60-day IL.

Even though Muncy is expected to return to the lineup this season, the Los Angeles Dodgers star has been progressing slower than originally thought. Muncy has been out of action for over two months and has yet to begin swinging a bat. As a result, an end-of-August return to the lineup appears to be the most probable outcome if the team can figure out what is going on.

In the latest episode of Foul Territory, the Dodgers star spoke about his oblique injury.

"My body just hasn't cooperated and bounced back to a lot of the treatments that we have been trying to do," Muncy said. "We can't necessarily figure out why that is."

According to Muncy, the team's medical staff has run a series of scans and images of the injury, yet it remains a mystery why he has been unable to ramp up his activity.

"We've just really struggled to put our finger on what has been going on," he said, explaining that the recovery process has gone slower than many expected.

It will likely still be some time before the Dodgers fans see Max Muncy back in the lineup. However, his return will be welcomed with open arms. The Dodgers could use another powerful bat, such as Muncy's back in the lineup, as the veteran smashed 184 home runs during his seven-year tenure with the club.

Max Muncy is not the only notable Dodgers player working his way back to the roster

While Max Muncy remains without a timeline for his return to the lineup, another beloved player could be on the verge of making his season debut. Dodgers legend Clayton Kershaw has yet to pitch for Los Angeles this season. However, his return to the rotation could come sooner rather than later.

Clayton Kershaw is getting closer to his return (IMAGN)

Kershaw opened the year on the IL after undergoing surgery on his throwing shoulder back in November. The future Hall of Famer has been slowly working his way back to the rotation as he has been making several minor-league rehab starts in anticipation of his return.