The Los Angeles Dodgers were forced to play without All-Star third baseman Justin Turner for the first month and a half of the 2018 season after he fractured his left wrist when he was hit by a pitch during Spring Training.
Turner avoided surgery on the wrist and has had stretches where he’s looked like his usual self but overall hasn’t been the hitter from past seasons. Entering play Tuesday, he is batting .250/.307/.353 with one home run and 10 RBI in 18 games.
Part of the reason for that could be that Turner only played two rehab games before being activated from the disabled list, so he may have been rushed back a bit.
It appears he is currently suffering the repercussions from that, as Turner is out of the lineup for Tuesday’s series opener against the Pittsburgh Pirates due to soreness in his wrist, via Bill Plunkett of the Southern California News Group:
Justin Turner has soreness in his left wrist. Cropped up over the weekend. Getting treatment. Should be back in #Dodgers lineup Wednesday
— Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) June 5, 2018
While Turner’s wrist not feeling 100 percent isn’t good news for the Dodgers, him expecting to be back in the lineup on Wednesday after just one game is certainly a positive.
Even though Turner hasn’t produced at his normal rate, the Dodgers have played much better baseball since he returning. They’ve gone 13-4 in their last 17 games which is the best record in the National League over that span.
Max Muncy, who has been tearing the cover off the ball over the last month, gets the start at third base in Turner’s place on Tuesday, while Bellinger comes back in from the outfield to his usual first base spot.
The Dodgers have off days on both Monday and Thursday of next week, which could greatly benefit Turner if his wrist is still bothering him.
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