After a lengthy stay on the disabled list, the Los Angeles Dodgers will be excited to welcome back third baseman Justin Turner to tonight's lineup. Turner, who missed three weeks with a strained right hamstring, came off the disabled list Friday when the team activated him.
Before the injury, Turned played a critical part in Los Angeles' success. The 32-year-old hit in the thick of the team's lineup and crushed baseballs to the tune of a .379/.453/.493 slash line. Turner played at an extremely high All Star level and seemed to be the team's early MVP through the first six weeks of the season, before he went down with the hamstring strain. While Turner had just one home run on the year, he was a fantastic source of hits and run production for the team.
Turner's return from the disabled list and slide back into the hot corner will make manager Dave Roberts' lineup options intriguing. Logan Forsythe held down third base while Turner sat out and that allowed Chase Utley to start at second base, while Chris Taylor starter in center field with Joc Pederson on the disabled list.
Now with Turner in the lineup and Pederson headed back, lots of movement with the lineups could happen. Forsythe will certainly move back to second base, but that leaves questions about Taylor when Pederson returns. The 26-year-old is in the midst of an unexpected breakout season and the owner of a .305/.395/.518 slash line with seven home runs and a 148 wRC+ in 162 plate appearances.
There might be some platoons coming in Los Angeles but they are certainly excited to have Turner's bat back in the lineup and all of the additional weapons throughout the roster that offer punch with the bat and versatility.