Trea Turner endured more struggles in the field during Game 3 of the National League Division Series, and also suffered a minor injury on his head-dive back to first base in the eighth inning.
Turner immediately shook his right hand after going back to the bag and was checked on by Dodgers manager Dave Roberts and trainer Nate Lucero while the San Diego Padres challenged the safe call. Turner went into the dugout as the play was reviewed and returned to first base with both hands wrapped in a sliding mitt rather than just the left.
Turner said after the Dodgers’ loss he jammed the ring finger on his right hand but X-rays were negative. “It’s a little sore,” Turner added.
“Kind of got my ring finger a little sideways. It is what it is. I’ve played through a lot in my career, so this is just another challenge.”
Last year, Turner suffered what the Washington Nationals deemed a jammed finger. In reality, he played the remainder of the season with a fracture in the knuckle of a finger on his left hand. In 2019, Turner sustained a fractures in the index and middle fingers on his right hand.
The 29-year-old was looking to rewrite the postseason narrative that has been attached to him, and early on accomplished that. However, since hitting a double and home run against the Padres in Game 1 of the NLDS, Turner is just 2-for-9 with a home run and three strikeouts.
He hasn’t been the only member of the Dodgers lineup to struggle, as the team is mired in an 0-for-19 skid with runners in scoring position.
“Kind of what I talked about the last game. Getting guys on, but not being able to drive them in and play baseball,” Turner said Friday.
“My at-bat, I’ve got to get that run in with less than two outs and man on third, just like Mookie (Betts) did. That’s the difference in the ballgame, is getting those runners over and getting them in. The last two games we haven’t been able to do that.”
Prior to Game 4, which Turner was in the Dodgers lineup for, Roberts said an MRI revealed a Grade 2 right finger sprain.
Can Dodgers remove Trea Turner from postseason roster?
The Dodgers could remove Turner from their postseason roster for the NLDS, but doing so would make him ineligible if the team advances to the NL Championship Series. Turner would not be eligible to return unless the Dodgers reached the World Series.
If he is unable to play but remains on the roster, the Dodgers could look to Gavin Lux or Chris Taylor to play shortstop.
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