The Los Angeles Dodgers suffered a devastating blow in Monday night’s win over the Oakland Athletics, as All-Star third baseman and team leader Justin Turner was hit by a pitch and fractured his left wrist.
While Turner is a player that can’t be replaced both on and off the field, he will likely be out for at least the first several weeks of the season, so the Dodgers will have to manage without him. Fortunately, perhaps no team in baseball is more equipped to deal with an injury.
The Dodgers have assembled a roster — and organization — that’s predicated on depth and versatility. In the wake of the injury, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that the primary plan to replace Turner is to move second baseman Logan Forsythe to third base.
That in turn will create a timeshare at second base between Chase Utley, Kiké Hernandez and Austin Barnes.
Roberts also addressed who will replace Turner in the No. 3 spot in the batting order, as he said that normal cleanup hitter Cody Bellinger will likely move up a spot, via Bill Plunkett of the Southern California News Group:
Cody Bellinger will likely slide into that spot in the batting order with others – Matt Kemp, Yasiel Puig, et al. – moving up accordingly.
Roberts usually likes to split up his two big lefties in the lineup, Corey Seager and Bellinger, but if Bellinger is batting third, then the last two National League Rookies of the Year will hit back-to-back for the Dodgers.
If that doesn’t work out, Matt Kemp could potentially be sandwiched in between the two, with Bellinger going back to his normal cleanup spot.
