The Los Angeles Dodgers began their 10-game homestand with a win against the Miami Marlins, but may have lost a cornerstone in the process. Justin Turner pulled up lame in the seventh inning while attempting to score on Yasmani Grandal’s single.
Turner was helped off the field by Dodgers trainer Nate Lucero and immediately retired to the clubhouse. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said postgame that Turner will undergo testing and have scans of his right hamstring on Friday.
“Just talking to the training staff, the strength was still there, which is positive” Roberts said of Turner’s hamstring. “To my eyes it didn’t look good coming around third base.
“But I heard the strength was OK, so we’re going to hold out hope (Turner avoids the disabled list).”
Roberts added the issue is closer to Turner’s knee, as opposed to “the belly of the hamstring.”
Turner went 2-for-3 with one run scored and one walk prior to being removed. Should a DL stint become necessary, it does solve a bit of a roster crunch for the Dodgers. Logan Forsythe was said to be nearing a return.
Roberts said Sunday was best-case scenario, with Tuesday a more realistic possibility. Forsythe appeared in back-to-back rehab games with High-A Rancho Cucamonga, going hitless last Tuesday and 1-for-2 with a walk on Wednesday.
Turner suffering an injury creates an opportunity for Chris Taylor. Although Taylor has cooled of late, he’s batting .324/.438/.541 with four doubles, four home runs and 15 RBI in 26 games. He replaced Turner in Thursday’s game.