Turner expected to start during homestand

Third baseman comes in as pinch-hitter vs. Rockies

April 24th, 2016

DENVER -- Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner missed his second start with a bruised left big toe on Sunday, but manager Dave Roberts expressed optimism about a return to the lineup for Monday's homestand opener.
"We anticipate him being back in the lineup tomorrow," Roberts said Sunday. "It's better than it was."
Turner came into Sunday's 12-10 win over the Rockies as a pinch-hitter in the eighth inning and drew a walk.
Turner suffered a freak injury Friday night while batting in the third inning. On a pitch in the dirt, Corey Seager strayed too far off first base, drawing a throw from Rockies catcher Tony Wolters.
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After gathering the ball, Wolters swiveled his body toward first base and, as he unleashed his throw, stepped on Turner's toe while planting and pivoting on his back foot.
Turner said the combination of Wolter's spike and weight on his toe and the twisting pressure as Wolter threw inflamed the first joint and surrounding soft tissue.
Turner was still limping on Sunday and Roberts said the fact that the injury occurred on the same side as Turner's offseason microfracture knee surgery led the training staff to determine that an extra day of rest was appropriate.
In the wake of the surgery, Turner has not been the same offensive force he was last year. His current OPS of .674 is roughly 200 points shy of his numbers for the past two seasons with the Dodgers. He hit 16 home runs last year in 385 at-bats, but has none this year in 57 at-bats.
Turner said he has been fitted with a splint-like orthotic that keeps the toe immobilized.
Howie Kendrick started at third base again for the Dodgers on Sunday.