Turner to sit Sat. after injuring leg on SB

August 29th, 2020

The hamstring injury that forced third baseman from Friday night’s 6-2 loss to the Rangers at Globe Life Field is believed to be a cramp and not a strain, manager Dave Roberts said.

Turner won’t play on Saturday and will be reevaluated on Sunday.

“We’re thinking more cramp than mild strain,” Roberts said. “We feel pretty good with where he’s at.”

Turner sustained the leg injury while stealing second base in the seventh inning after tying the game with a two-out RBI single.

Turner slowed down nearing the bag on his steal, dived in safely head-first, then motioned to the dugout and was replaced on the bases by Matt Beaty.

Turner has a history of hamstring injuries, serving three-week stints on the injured list in 2014 for his right hamstring and in '17 for his left hamstring. He missed a game last week after being hit on the back of the left hamstring by a pitch.

He played both games of Thursday’s doubleheader in San Francisco, serving as designated hitter in the nightcap. He was hit by pitches in both games.

The 35-year-old Turner is in the final year of a four-year, $64 million contract and is slashing .282/.384/.410 with two homers and 20 RBIs in 32 games.