Dodgers: Justin Turner to undergo MRI for injured left ankle

The Dodgers have clinched their seventh straight division title but they remain a team looking to reach full health. Turner is the latest banged up Dodger.

With the NL West division now in hand and a playoff berth sealed, the Dodgers goal is now to get as healthy as possible before the postseason begins.  The latest Dodger to come up on the injury report is Justin Turner who is scheduled to undergo an MRI tonight or tomorrow.

The club could be without JT for the rest of the week as they head to New York after Thursday’s game against the Orioles.  Turner injured the ankle on a diving play in Saturday night’s game against the Giants.  Justin had an x-ray on the ankle that was inconclusive so with him still nursing an injury he will get an MRI to hopefully figure out what is going on with his ankle.

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The Dodgers recently recalled Edwin Rios after Dave Roberts had initially said that Rios and Kyle Garlick were both done for the season.  With Alex Verdugo also out injured, the Dodgers decided to bring Rios back as an additional left-handed bat and another player capable of playing third base.  Now that it appears Turner will miss the rest of the week, the motive behind the move is clear.

Turner’s slow start to September is most likely linked to his ankle as he has a slash line of .158/.238/.316 this month in 19 at-bats.  He is coming off of a red hot August in which he slugged ten home runs and hit .330 with a slugging percentage of .680.  His injury comes at the worse possible time as JT will now need to reset when he returns and try to get hot again before the postseason.

The Dodgers’ offense takes a big hit with Turner out as the bearded veteran has always been the stabilizer in LA’s lineup.  Not only can he hit for power, but he is also a tough at-bat who rarely strikes out and can hit for average as well.

The Dodgers will need Turner in the postseason and he has provided a clutch home run in each of the last two NLCS.  The priority is now to let JT heal up and get as close to 100% as he can before the postseason begins.