Justin Turner isn’t in the starting lineup for Game 2 of the NLCS, as Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said the third baseman is battling a neck stinger. “He couldn’t turn his head to the right,” Roberts told MLB.com’s Juan Toribio and other reporters. “Justin will do anything we ask, but I just don’t think it’s right to put him in that spot, and for us as a club, I think we have other options also.” Chris Taylor will instead get the start at third base in Turner’s spot.
The injury first occurred during batting practice prior to Game 1, though Turner was well enough to play and went 1-for-4 in the Dodgers’ 3-2 loss to the Braves. Roberts hopes Monday’s off-day will allow Turner to be ready for Game 3 on Tuesday, and Turner might only be used today in an emergency pinch-hit scenario. Turner has yet to get going this postseason, as his hit in Game 1 was just his third of the playoffs; the veteran has only a .381 OPS through 30 plate appearances.
More injury notes from the postseason bracket…
- Max Muncy updated reporters (including Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register) yesterday on the status of his dislocated left elbow. While “the range of motion has actually been pretty decent the last couple days [and] we’re able to get more movement in it than we thought,” Muncy admitted that “it’s just one of those things where it’s not really close to normal and probably won’t be. If we’re able to play, it’ll be essentially gutting through.” Muncy said he has been participating in some unspecified rehab that may or may not be baseball activity-related, though he is also wearing a brace on his left arm at almost all times, even while sleeping. The Dodgers didn’t include Muncy on their NLCS roster and it remains to be seen if he can be healthy enough to participate in the World Series, should Los Angeles get past the Braves.
- Right knee discomfort forced Luis Garcia out of yesterday’s ALCS Game 2 in the second inning, though the Astros right-hander appears to have avoided serious injury. Manager Dusty Baker told FOX 26’s Mark Berman (Twitter links) and other reporters that Garcia threw a bullpen session today, and the righty himself said “I feel really good, and I think whenever they say it’s time for me to get back on the mound I’ll be good to go.” It isn’t known when Garcia might be able to pitch again, or if he’d be used in a starting or a relief capacity. Garcia only threw 33 pitches in Game 2, but was also torched for five runs on three walks and two hits, including a J.D. Martinez grand slam.
- Baker also told Berman and other media that Jake Meyers was throwing today, and the outfielder is doing better in the wake of his left shoulder injury from Game 4 of the ALDS. Meyers collided with the outfield wall in pursuit of a Gavin Sheets home run and had to leave the field in the second inning. The Astros included Meyers on their ALCS roster though he has yet to make an appearance against the Red Sox.
If Turner’s injury is that bad, coupled with his performance that is very likely in part cause of this injury, they should give his roster spot to someone else.
Taking JT off the roster guarantees he’s out of the World Series. It’ll take hell to take him off the roster unless it’s a lot worse than they’re letting on
Garcia is able to pitch again in the ALCS? God is good! Sox in 6
Did anyone else wonder as it unfolded whether the lengthy delay after Garcia’s injury was done on purpose to try to change the flow of the game? I’ve NEVER seen a longer delay after a pitcher’s injury and I thought gamesmanship was part of the reason.
Well most of the time a reliever comes in after injuries, since it’s usually during the regular season. Since it was a SP it takes a lot longer to get ready. The only reason it was extended was because Oddorizi came in and not someone like Yimi Garcia. It isn’t some grand conspiracy just because it is Houston.
I know a starter takes longer but this isn’t the first time a traditional starter replaced an injured pitcher. it just took so long that perhaps a time limit should be added to the rules even if it means the team has to choose someone else. The delay could have caused Boston to have had to replace their starter.
If the Astros were sandbagging, it is going to add a whole new level of motivation to the RS. I already thought that Correa added some motivation with his ‘it’s my time’ act.
Garcia was able to jog down the dugout steps into the tunnel when he left on national tv… ask any one who injures a knee if that ever happens! Astros are known for sand bagging still it seems.
I had a torn acl and was able to still play hockey. The pain was tolerable until a got pushed in the back. I played baseball until July that year and went in for my operation. Granted I’m Canadian and as we all know Canadians are much tougher and it’s not debatable.
A chronic ACL tear is not the same as an acute full tear. I fully tore my right ACL in college but that was prior to surgery being optimized. Went through two months of conservative rehab and was ok. About five years later, I was on the company softball team with no issues but then the knee would start to buckle without warning. A brace was initially my mut finally in 1997 I had the first of three procedures including full reconstruction in 98. The ACL does not regenerate on it’s own. You can live without surgery but for an active lifestyle it needs to be repaired.
A chronic ACL tear is not the same as an acute full tear. I fully tore my right ACL in college but that was prior to surgery being optimized. Went through two months of conservative rehab and was ok. About five years later, I was on the company softball team with no issues but then the knee would start to buckle without warning. A brace was initially made but finally in 1997 I had the first of three procedures including full reconstruction in 98. The ACL does not regenerate on it’s own. You can live without surgery but for an active lifestyle it needs to be repaired.
I would like to know more about Muncys rehab
Great, see what you can find and let us know.
Sadly I haven’t found anything yet 🙁
We all know what the best rehab is for an elbow injury is…
Things are falling into place for the Braves. It just feels like the Braves are meant to finally beat the Dodgers in the postseason. It just feels like it. I want to feel like it is. I’m hoping that will be the case. But, we are talking about the Braves.
LETS! Do! THIS!
I thought the same thing about the Giants after game one in NLDS. Lol
@Don’tComeBacktoATLFreeman Wow you sound positive its a good look for you, Keep it up
The home plate ump is clearly a Dodgers fan tonight. Wonder if he is from LA?
Bull!
Does Chris Taylor look like Bruce Dern?
IDK, but he definitely looks like he knows what is coming every at bat. He has been the hardest out for the Braves so far.
and once again it is Taylor. Not buying it!
Heredia is an MVP on this team. Snit knows he needs to be on the roster. Keep Pache for decoration.
Unbelievable!
Deja vu again!
Having a team 16 games worse than the other walk off game one and game two shows how broken MLB playoff system is at the moment. What a joke
it is broken when it does not work for your team? I’m sure you would say nothing if it was another way around.
We saw this last year. The series is not over. However, I said prior to the postseason, if the Braves get past the Brewers and then conveniently play the Dodgers again, the Baseball G-ds want this to happen. Morton was literally acquired for this exact scenerio.
Let us celebrate for a bit. The Braves had zero success in the PS since 1999.
This is why I’m strict with Albies. If he just does what he did today, this team would score more runs. It is unbearable watching his uppercut swing trying to blast everything out of the park. This team needs to start getting hits. They are more than capable to win this series now.
I couldn’t care less who the teams are. An 88 win team should not be hosting the NLCS against a 106 win team, and get the privilege to walk off the first two games
The Braves didn’t earn jack because the giants won 107. Thats the broken part, genius
Whatever you say. What happened this year is circumstantial. Nobody usually worries about this since it rarely happens. It happened this year. We are still playing based on traditional rules. We may never see this again. Of course, they can change the rules soon.
I have an angel and a devil on either shoulder. One is saying the Braves will take this series. The other remembers all the heartbreak and knows it’s not over yet.
What I do know is this…. if the Braves take it, it will be fun reading Bill P (dodger writer) and others excuses.
If you think Plasckhe makes excuses for LA, you need to do some more reading buddy. He finds anything to criticize the team on. Has been that way for a decade+
And you can flap your wings and pretend it’s not a big deal. You know damn well it’s ridiculous and if the Braves were the 106 win team getting walked off in G1 AND G2 by an 88 win team in the championship series, you’d be upset.
What’s the point in playing 162 if win total doesn’t matter? Rather it just matters how mediocre your divisional competition was? That’s where we are at. And I’d be saying the same thing if the giants were in LA’s shoes. If you’re going to make them play 162, make it worth something
Not Plas. There is another guy named Bill. He said heading into the series that the hard part for the Dodgers was over when they beat the Giants. Braves brass took that personally, whether true or not.
All I see are two teams with underperforming offenses in the series. Their regular-season records are irrelevant. The Braves are not 2-0 because they are at home. They are 2-0 because of Joc and Riley. The Dodgers made the games close because of Taylor and Seager. Both teams have good rotations. The Dodgers have more depth in the bullpen but it has been overused because of manager’s decision and game 5 against the Giants.
If you are going to come here and argue the Braves are where they are because of their home advantage, then you are exactly the person people would point their finger too and laugh at.
@Before McCourt – If you feel that way, you’d hate the old playoff method where only division winners would make the playoffs (when there were only an East & West division). The Dodgers wouldn’t have been in the playoffs at all if that was still in play. Awarding division winners with home field helps balance out the tougher divisions from the easier ones, especially with the unbalanced schedule. The only way this changes would be if every team played the same schedule.
The only joke is that a $280 million team like the Dodgers gets to pad their record by playing 38 games a season against teams like the Rockies and Diamondbacks. I’d like to see the Dodgers do that in a division with teams that can actually spend like they do. If the Dodgers division was actually fair they would have to compete directly with the Giants, Yankees, Red Sox and Astros. I would love to see the Dodgers try to build the best record while picking on teams with payrolls their size. Only then will Dodgers fans honestly get to say they aren’t just buying a championship. The Dodgers would never be considered as good as they are if they actually had to face off against teams with similar payrolls all season long. They are almost gifted 38 wins a year by getting that many games against teams like Arizona and Colorado. That’s the only reason their record is so good. You wanna bulk up your payroll to over $280 million a year? Okay. That’s fine. Nothing wrong with that. You should just have to spend all season long battling against the other teams that do it too. Then you won’t be winning 106 games when the other teams have the same advantages you do.
Another clown take. You are pretty bad at posting.
FreemanGuy…..Trying to decide which one is more stupid. Your name, or your thoughts.???
Nfl, mlb, nba, probably nhl. Rule is the same. Win your division control your own destiny.
Braves did their part. They won their division. Dodgers didnt.
Nothings wrong with the system.
You have 7 games to win 4. If the dodgers cant win 4 games (they play 3 at home and a 106 win team should be able to steal 1 or 2 from an 88 win team) then they dont deserve to win. Its that simple.
Dodgers had their chances in game 1 and game 2. Didnt capitalize. Still have 5 games to win 4.
If not for Robert’s we would have won 112 games for sure.
I don’t get it. We kept extra left hand relievers on the roster, then burn up a starter (Urias) tonight, lose the game and lose game 4 starter? Why? Then Graterol in 9th? Fire Roberts!
Urias was scheduled to throw a side session tonight anyways (30-40 pitches). He’s still available to start Game 4 since that is 3 days from now. Roberts went with his best pitcher in Urias (as the stat geeks told him to), it just didn’t work out tonight.
I just think he pulls starters too early. My theory is relief pitchers don’t have it every night. The more you use in a game, the more chance you find the one who doesn’t have it. Sherzer was good for another inning at least. I’m betting he doesn’t resign with us because of the way he’s handled.
Scherzer himself said he was toast. He told Roberts the previous inning that he was almost out of gas. When a future HOF that is as competitive as Scherzer is tells you he’s got nothing left, you make the move. You could see in his face that he knew it was the right move. While I don’t think Urias was the right move when he went to him, getting mad at DR for pulling Scherzer is just dumb, and thinking Scherzer will not come back because of it, is even dumber.
Urias won game 5 v SF all by himself. If I was Roberts, already down 1-0, I’d have tried the same thing. IRT Graterol, there are some posters in here that thought he should’ve been kept in, and that he’d have been fine. I’m kind of an agnostic on the move. My guess is that Roberts was trying to get a few outs form him before bringing in Jansen for multiple innings.
If the Dodgers lose this series I would hope that Roberts gets shown the door. I do not understand why you’d mess with a good thing and try to get so cute with your pitching staff. He needs to stick with what has worked and stop tinkering so much, the NLCS isn’t the time for experimentation
Lol. Dave Roberts has a .622 win pct. as a manager. Multiple pennants. A WS ring as a player and a manager. Frankly, he is smarter than you and it’s far more likely that you’ll get fired from your job, before Roberts will.
So the same great tinkering that won the ALDS against SF, is now bad tinkering?
Just to pick an example, Urias won the G5 v the SFG, all by himself. So was that a good move or a bad move. And, if it was a good move, did it suddenly become a bad move against Atlanta?