The Los Angeles Dodgers are facing a mammoth challenge to return to the World Series in consecutive seasons. Not only do they have to overcome a 3-2 deficit in the NL Championship Series against the Atlanta Braves, but they also have to do it without their All-Star third baseman Justin Turner.
According to Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, Turner suffered a Grade 2 hamstring strain in a 9-2 loss to the Braves in Game 4 of the NLCS and will have to sit out the remainder of the playoffs.
“Early indication is it’s a grade 2, so I think that’ll be it for him,” said Roberts via Dodgers beat writer Bill Plunkett. He added that Turner would be replaced with an infielder on their NLCS roster.
As ESPN points out, the grade 2 hamstring strain takes anywhere between four to eight weeks to heal. Even if Turner recovers quicker than expected and the Dodgers find a way to turn things around, that would still be a few weeks too late as the potential Game 7 of the World Series is scheduled for November 3rd.
Justin Turner had a stellar 2021 regular campaign that saw him hit .278 with 27 home runs and 87 RBIs. However, Turner didn’t exactly replicate this form in the postseason despite being one of the players the Dodgers counted on the most. The 36-year-old star had two hits in 10 at-bats through the series against Atlanta.
