LOS ANGELES -- Justin Turner has been known to play hurt, and he might be playing hurt in October.

He missed his ninth consecutive game Wednesday with a sprained left ankle. The Dodgers have only nine regular-season games remaining before the National League Division Series opens at Dodger Stadium on Oct. 3.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts on Wednesday again offered no timetable for his third baseman’s return and said he was “surprised how long it’s taken.”

“I still feel there’s plenty of time for him to get the at-bats to be ready for the postseason,” said Roberts, although he also sounded doubtful that Turner would play Friday. Thursday and Monday are off days.

But then, Roberts said: “I think it will be more than a couple of games” Turner needs to be ready for the postseason. “We’ll see. We’ll take it day to day.”

Turner appeared on the field before Wednesday’s game with a pair of athletic trainers, the ankle appearing heavily taped. He stretched and jogged straight ahead, but did no baseball activity. Until he can run the bases and make quick directional changes, it’s unlikely he can play baseball in any role other than pinch-hitter.

“He was moving around. Today’s better than yesterday,” Roberts said. “Come Friday, we’ll see where he’s at. Taking this much time, when he does come back, just want to be confident we can sustain it.”

Although the Dodgers did not take batting practice Wednesday, they did have Jedd Gyorko, Edwin Rios and Kristopher Negrón taking grounders at third base.

• Another game, another late starting pitching change for the Dodgers. This time they scratched announced Wednesday night starter Tony Gonsolin and replaced him with reliever Casey Sadler. Roberts gave the same explanation as he did 24 hours earlier when Caleb Ferguson subbed for Ross Stripling.

Like Stripling, Roberts said, Gonsolin’s potential postseason role would be in relief, implying the rookie won’t be the fourth starter in a playoff series. Roberts said he notified the Rays of the change Tuesday night, but there was no public announcement until Wednesday afternoon.

It was Sadler’s first “start” since 2015 with Pittsburgh and first appearance since Sept. 13.

• Roberts confirmed that Rich Hill will test his left knee Friday against hitters. If he comes out of that healthy, Hill will start Tuesday. But Roberts sounded guarded when asked if he was optimistic.

“I’m hopeful,” he said. “With Rich, you know he’s so determined. For us, let’s get past Friday feeling good. I hope he can make that start on Tuesday.”