Cody Bellinger getting closer to returning

We still don’t have a date yet, but it looks as if Cody Bellinger is getting even closer to returning. On Friday, he posted a video to his Instagram account, showing him doing more running.. and he looked like he was moving a lot faster than he was earlier in the week.

Bellinger’s last update was a video of him jogging at what looked like 60 percent, today’s video showed him getting up to 19 miles per hour, per manager Dave Roberts.

“He was moving,” Roberts said to the media on Friday. “He ran up to 19 mph. It was effortless.”

Roberts said that Bellinger was running at about 80 percent. The plan is for him to take simulated at bats tomorrow. Hopefully Bellinger will feel fine later in the week and they’ll send him on a rehab assignment and have him see some minor-league action. His return is all contingent on how he’s feeling. He’ll still need to see how he feels in the field and in the batters box, and most importantly running the bases during a game.

Speaking of heading to the minors for some rehab games, it looks like Zach McKinstry will be heading to Oklahoma City to rehab on Sunday. There’s also no timetable for him, but if he’ll be seeing game action next week that’s an encouraging sign for his return.

Other news and notes

• Scott Alexander is going to pick up a baseball and play some catch on Friday. It looks like he’s going to be at least another 2-3 weeks before he returns.
• Sunday will now be a bullpen game. The original plan was to start Walker Buehler, but LA is pushing him back to Monday.
• With Edwin Rios out, the Dodgers don’t plan to have Max Muncy see more time at third base. Chris Taylor could see more time at the position, though.
• David Price feels ready to go. Roberts said the next step is either activation off the IL or another live throwing session with hitters.