LOS ANGELES -- Kenley Jansen had an appointment with his cardiologist on Tuesday, but Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said no decision has been made whether the closer will accompany the club to Colorado for a three-game weekend showdown with the Rockies.
Jansen said this weekend that his status is uncertain, as the club and medical professionals are debating the health risks of returning him to the Mile High City, where Jansen sustained an irregular heartbeat last month, and also where he suffered an irregular heartbeat in 2012. That first episode led to offseason ablation surgery. He expects to have another procedure this winter.
"We're not prepared to make that final decision on whether he's going to join us or not," said Roberts.
"He's where he's supposed to be with the medication, but ultimately it's a doctor's decision and Kenley's comfort level. For us as an organization, it's whatever decision they come up with."
Roberts said Jansen wants to make the trip, but his health is the club's first concern. With expanded rosters and the acquisition of Ryan Madson, the Dodgers are better equipped to withstand Jansen's absence now than last month. They also are targeting the Rockies series for the return to the bullpen of All-Star Thomas Stripling, providing added depth.
After experiencing atrial fibrillation in Denver, Jansen spent 10 days on the disabled list. He returned on medication and experienced the worst four-game stretch of his career before rebounding off the medication to pitch effectively the last three games against Arizona.
Turner up for Clemente Award
Dodgers infielder Justin Turner was busy fielding honors on Tuesday, as he was named the Budweiser Presents National League Player of the Month for August as well as the Dodgers' 2018 nominee for the prestigious Roberto Clemente Award, the most prominent individual player award bestowed by MLB, for a second consecutive season. The last Dodger to win the Roberto Clemente Award was Clayton Kershaw in 2012.
Turner, who hit .402 to win the monthly award, has been an active member in the community since he joined the Dodgers in 2014. In '16, he founded the Justin Turner Foundation, whose mission is to support homeless veterans and children (and their families) battling life-altering illnesses. This past offseason, Turner hosted his 3rd annual Justin Turner Golf Classic in his efforts to support the Dream Center's Veterans Program. Through his efforts, the Dream Center is able to house and mentor more than 26 veterans and also recently opened its Women Veteran Program, which provides support, job and skill training, mentoring, outreach opportunities, classroom-based instruction, employment resources and benefit assistance at its 18-bed transitional housing program.
Additionally, since its founding, the Justin Turner Foundation has provided more than 10,000 toys and 2,000 bicycles to children in the Los Angeles area through its holiday giving efforts. Turner also partners with the 17Strong Foundation, founded by Ryan Teixeira and carried on by his family and loved ones, which is built on giving patients that are recovering from a life-altering illness a victory trip of their choice. Turner is also cworking with the Yokota Air Base in Fussa, Japan, to help create a baseball league for U.S. military children whose parents are serving in the military.