3 key takeaways from Dodgers' 1st walk-off loss of 2026

PHOENIX -- For the first time this season, the Dodgers found themselves on the bad end of a walk-off. The end result was just one of several concerns that bubbled to the surface following Thursday night's 3-2 loss to the D-backs, which sealed a split in the four-game set at Chase Field.

There was uncertainty surrounding the status of Max Muncy, who exited after colliding with D-backs first baseman Ildemaro Vargas in the fifth inning. There was the question of why Shohei Ohtani, who had a planned day off, did not pinch-hit in a tie game in the top of the ninth. And finally, there was a sense of déjá vu when Tanner Scott surrendered a walk-off blast to Ketel Marte for his second loss in his past three outings.

Let's break down three takeaways from the loss:

Muncy optimistic after collision

After the scary collision with Vargas that left both players down on the ground for several minutes, Muncy came away with a cut on the right side of his nose but otherwise said he was none the worse for the wear.

"I'm gonna be all right," Muncy said. "A little banged up, but I'll be all right."

Muncy is expected to be down for Friday's series opener against the Angels, but he could be available over the weekend. That's an encouraging sign for him and the Dodgers, who know from experience that losing Muncy for any period of time would be difficult to swallow.

Muncy, who was hitting .254 with an .860 OPS, had been one of the Dodgers' steadiest hitters through the first two months and change. He entered Thursday with a 140 wRC+, tied with Andy Pages for the second-highest mark among qualified Dodgers behind Ohtani (161).

Last July, Muncy sustained a bone bruise in his left knee following a collision at third base that landed him on the injured list for a month. Muncy's IL stint coincided with a major offensive swoon for L.A. where the team ranked 30th in the Majors with 88 runs scored.

Muncy provides a quality that's tough to replace in the heart of the Dodgers' order. L.A. scuffled without him last year, and getting by without him this year would be no easier, especially with Kiké Hernández and Teoscar Hernández both on the IL.

Why Ohtani stayed on the bench

After the Dodgers' bullpen coughed up a two-run lead in the bottom of the eighth inning, L.A. had Pages, Kyle Tucker and Will Smith due up in the top of the ninth. If one of them got on base, that would bring up Santiago Espinal -- hitting in Muncy's spot -- which would have been the perfect place to have Ohtani pinch-hit.

Smith doubled with two outs, but Ohtani did not emerge from the Dodgers' dugout. Instead, Espinal went to the plate and struck out on three pitches.

The way manager Dave Roberts saw it, had Ohtani pinch-hit, the D-backs would have put him on first base with the Dodgers' 7-8-9 hitters up next. But if L.A. had been able to force extra innings, then Ohtani would have pinch-hit for No. 9 hitter Miguel Rojas in the 10th.

Ohtani was the last player on the bench. If he had pinch-hit for Espinal, who was playing third base, the Dodgers' infield alignment would have been in flux. Most likely, Smith would have had to shift from DH to catcher, Dalton Rushing from catcher to first and Freddie Freeman from first to third.

"I think for me it was more of, once we get into extra innings, then I would kind of fire that bullet," Roberts said. "It's harder on the road when you have to play defense if you don't score."

Scott's scuffles return

Scott has largely rebounded from his tough first year in Dodger blue, but surrendering the walk-off blast to Marte on a fastball down and in brought back unpleasant memories of last season.

"You’ve got to tip your cap. He's a good hitter," Scott said. "Should I have gone up and in? Yeah. Or just a slider. I knew he was going to be aggressive."

Last Saturday, Scott had another tough one, giving up three runs to the Phillies. The two poor outings are the only real blips he's had since taking over for injured closer Edwin Díaz, but it stings that they have come in such quick succession.

"He's been good for us all year," Roberts said, "and right now, two of the last three just haven't been the results we hoped."