While the Los Angeles Dodgers have needed to put several players on the injured list this season, the team has not done so with Justin Turner despite keeping him out of their lineup for nine of the past 10 games.
Turner’s 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 then announced 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. Now he isn’t expected to start until Thursday’s game at Oracle Park at the earliest, according to Jack Harris of the L.A. Times:
Dave Roberts said Justin Turner probably won’t play again until at least Thursday
Robert said Turner isn’t getting worse, and had an MRI that was clean. They’re just continuing to be cautious
Roberts said they’re gonna keep him on the active roster
— Jack Harris (@Jack_A_Harris) July 31, 2022
Throughout the span of the injury, Roberts has stated on multiple occasions that a stint on the 10-day injured list for Turner was unlikely.
In the meantime, Max Muncy has become the regular third baseman. He’s continued to struggle at the plate but Roberts remains confident Muncy will turn the corner.
Justin Turner injury details
Roberts wasn’t sure of the exact diagnosis of the injury when he first ruled out an IL stint, but Turner explained to DodgerBlue.com last week that 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. Once 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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