In a significant roster shake-up, the Los Angeles Dodgers have announced several moves ahead of their Friday game. Outfielder Jason Heyward has been reinstated from the injured list, and outfielder Miguel Vargas has been recalled from Triple-A. These changes have resulted in outfielder James Outman being optioned and third baseman Max Muncy being placed on the injured list with an oblique strain.

The most notable aspect of this roster adjustment is the demotion of Outman, who was the runner-up for last year's National League Rookie of the Year award. Outman, 27, has struggled in his second full MLB season, batting just .147/.250/.266 with three home runs and 10 RBIs. With 40 strikeouts and a .516 OPS, Outman's performance has been below league average with a 48 OPS-plus.

Muncy, on the other hand, has been dealing with his own struggles at the plate. Hitting .223 with nine home runs and 28 RBIs in his first 40 games, Muncy has not been in peak form recently. He was absent from the lineup in the series opener against the Cincinnati Reds on Thursday and remained out of the lineup on Friday against right-hander Graham Ashcraft. Kiké Hernandez took Muncy's place at third base for the Dodgers.

Outman will now head back down to Triple-A to work on improving his swing, while Muncy will spend time on the injured list, aiming to regain his health and find his rhythm again. The first baseman has struggled immensely, going 1-for-25 in his last seven games and not recording an extra-base hit since May 7.

On the other hand, Heyward's return to the active roster is a positive development for the Dodgers. The 34-year-old outfielder had played in just four games before landing on the injured list due to a back issue. Despite his limited playing time, Heyward managed to record three hits in 14 at-bats. The healing process for Heyward's back injury took longer than expected, but now he is ready to contribute to the team once again.

Joining Heyward is outfielder Miguel Vargas, who has been called up for the first time this season and since last July. Vargas, a former top prospect, struggled in the MLB last season with a slash line of .195/.305/.367. However, injuries hampered his progress after suffering a pinky injury during spring training. Vargas has been excelling in Triple-A this year, boasting a .295/.437/.583 batting line with eight home runs and 38 RBIs. He will bring a solid right-handed presence to the Dodgers' outfield.

Additionally, the Dodgers have made a pitching change by recalling right-handed relief pitcher Ricky Vanasco from Oklahoma City and optioning left-hander Nick Ramirez.

While the struggling veteran Chris Taylor, who has been hitting just .083 (5-for-60) with 30 strikeouts, was speculated to be a candidate for the injured list or even being designated for assignment, he will remain with the team for now.

The Dodgers' roster moves aim to address areas of concern and bolster their lineup as they continue to compete in the highly competitive National League.