Turner likely at least a week from returning

Dodgers' third baseman sidelined since May 19 with hamstring injury

May 31st, 2017

ST. LOUIS -- Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner is at least a week away from returning from a hamstring injury, manager Dave Roberts said Wednesday.
Turner was placed on the 10-day disabled list on May 19.
There was hope that he could go on a rehab assignment and join the team for the series against the Washington Nationals early next week. Roberts doesn't see it.
"J.T. took swings in the cage on the field, did a little bit of baserunning," Roberts said. "Where yesterday I'd say he ran about 80 percent, today it was about at 70 percent. So tomorrow he'll be off. When he'll return, I still don't know. We're still for me, realistically, a week away from him to think about being back with us."

Even though Turner took the drills with less intensity than on Tuesday, that doesn't represent a setback.
"I think he's very self aware with his body," Roberts said. "He was pushed a lot yesterday, so to go through that motion today but at a lesser percent, we feel good about that."
Turner was hitting .379 with a homer and 17 RBIs when he got hurt.
The Dodgers, though, have gone 9-2 with Turner on the DL, and entered Wednesday's game against the Cardinals on a six-game winning streak. Roberts said the team's depth has produced, but getting Turner's bat back into the lineup will ease the load.
"We're pushing those guys hard," Roberts said. "It will be sort of a nice welcome to get Joc [Pederson] and J.T. back to spell those guys that we're running out there a lot, but it definitely helps when you trust the guys you're running out there in their absence."