The Los Angeles Dodgers placed Justin Turner on the 10-day injured list prior to Tuesday’s game due to an abdominal strain. Turner’s IL stint was backdated to July 30, which makes him eligible to return for next week’s series against the Minnesota Twins.
Turner’s chest trouble arose in the Dodgers’ first game after the All-Star break when he was pinch-hit for in the eighth inning against the San Francisco Giants. The Dodgers announced at the time Turner’s exit was due to abdominal tightness.
Turner missed the next five games before returning to the Dodgers lineup on July 27, going 1-for-3 with an RBI. However, he then was projected to be out for the first two games at Coors Field.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts then said Turner would miss the entire series against the Colorado Rockies and not start until Thursday’s game at Oracle Park at the earliest.
Throughout the span of Turner being limited by the injury, Roberts stated on multiple occasions that a stint on the IL was unlikely. Turner’s absence for the next week is presumed to have been a factor in the Dodgers calling up Miguel Vargas from Triple-A Oklahoma City.
Vargas was not in the lineup Tuesday, but he could receive some starts at third base, where Max Muncy has been playing since Turner’s injury.
Turner is batting .257/.332/.405 with 22 doubles, eight home runs and 54 RBI in his ninth season with the Dodgers. He additionally has an 18-game on-base streak.
Although the Dodgers roster is shorthanded with Turner’s IL stint beginning, his spot on the active roster will be filled Wednesday by Joey Gallo.
Justin Turner injury details
Roberts wasn’t sure of the specifics of injury when he first ruled out an IL stint, but Turner explained to DodgerBlue.com the discomfort was “just below my sternum, right on the inside of my ribcage.”
He initially felt the pain when taking swings before a third at-bat against the Giants and when it didn’t dissipate, Turner informed the trainers of the trouble and received treatment.
“Decided it wasn’t worth trying to push through it and making it worse,” Turner said. “Out of precaution, I shut it down.”
Having previous experience with oblique and intercostal injuries, Turner was relieved the latest injury has had a different feeling.
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