When the Los Angeles Dodgers struggled out of the gate last season and got off to their worst start since moving from Brooklyn, it was widely attributed to the absence of Justin Turner. He was sidelined for the first six weeks because of a fractured wrist suffered in Spring Training.
While Turner remains a key piece of the Dodgers lineup, they have been carried in the early going by Cody Bellinger’s historic pace. After adding to his RBI total on Monday night, Bellinger endured a scare as he was hit on the right knee by a 96 mph fastball.
Bellinger initially remained in the game but was replaced by Alex Verdugo the next half inning. While X-rays on Bellinger’s knee came back negative, he and Dodgers manager Dave Roberts weren’t certain of availability moving forward.
Unsurprisingly, Bellinger is not in the Dodgers’ lineup Tuesday, and neither is Turner. According to Alanna Rizzo of SportsNet LA, Turner is dealing with minor ailments, but Roberts expects him and Bellinger to return Wednesday:
Yesterday in BP, @redturn2 fouled a ball off of his ankle. He played and then compensated & his hamstring was bothered. Ankle contusion. He’s available to pinch hit.
— Alanna Rizzo (@alannarizzo) April 16, 2019
Roberts expects Turner & Bellinger to be in the lineup tomorrow.
— Alanna Rizzo (@alannarizzo) April 16, 2019
Turner played the entirety of the series opener, and only showed signs of potential injury through a grimace as he went to run out of the batter’s box in the first inning. Turner finished the night 2-f0r-3 with a walk.
Turner last dealt with hamstring trouble in 2017, when he missed nearly three weeks with a Grade 1 strain.
