* * * UPDATED: October 14, 2015 – 5:30 pm PT) * * *

The Dodgers have six guys who have appeared in all four National League Division Series games thus far. Of these six, five have 12 at-bats or more. Of these five, three are hitting above .300. Of these three, only one is hitting above .400. That one is Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner.

In his 16 postseason plate appearances Turner is 7 for 15 (.467) with four doubles, two runs scored and three runs batted in. He has one walk (intentional) and has been struck out twice.

Trying to stave off elimination, it was Turner’s two-out / two-run double in the top of the third inning of Tuesday night’s NLDS Game-4 that turned a precarious 1-0 Dodgers lead over the New York Mets into an eventual 3-1 Dodgers win. In doing so, the Dodgers tied the best-of-five series at two games apiece, thereby forcing a deciding Game-5 – which will be played at a much friendlier Dodger Stadium on Thursday evening.

“Honestly, I never thought he’d be this good of a hitter,” said Game-4 winning pitcher and Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw after the game. “He’s one of the best hitters in the game. So it’s really, really impressive to see what he’s been able to do since he got to us. We thought he’d be a great utility player, and he’s turned out to be our three, four-hole hitter and our starting third baseman. So can’t say enough about him.”

Although no one knew it at the time, Turner’s third-inning two-run double would prove be the difference in Tuesday night’s 3-1 win over the Mets to force a decisive Game-5. (AP photo)

On the other side of the ball, the 30-year-old Long beach, CA native has been better than the Dodgers had hoped for when they signed him as a free agent utility infielder in February of 2014 – much better. Good enough, in fact, that he supplanted former Dodger Juan Uribe and future former Dodger Alex Guerrero as the Dodgers’ everyday third baseman.

On Tuesday night Turner made a brilliant play on a hard ground ball off the bat of Mets shortstop Wilmer Flores with a runner on first to end the bottom of the seventh inning. Unfortunately, Turner landed hard on his ailing left knee on the play and exited the game the following inning. Turner initially injured the knee when he fouled a ball off of it back on June 8 and has been battling a deep bone bruise ever sense.

Turner’s grab of this hot grounder brought an end to the seventh inning. Unfortunately, he aggravated his ailing left knee in the process. (Video capture courtesy of TBS. – Click on image to view video)

Ever the warrior, the extremely popular redhead minimized his lingering knee injury when asked about it after the game.

“It’s still on my leg so I’ll be good to go,” Turner replied.

To add insult to injury – New York’s that is – Turner was non-tendered by the Mets after the 2013 season and given a one-year / $1.0 million minor league deal by former Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti, with an invitation to big league spring training camp. Not only did Turner make the Dodgers Opening Day roster, he is arguably one of Colletti’s best signings in his nine-years as the Dodgers’ GM. The Dodgers re-signed Turner to a one-year / $2.5 million contract this past off-season avoiding arbitration. He is under team control through the 2016 season and becomes a free agent in 2017.

* * * UPDATED: October 14, 2015 – 5:30 pm PT) * * *

During a telephonic media briefing on Wednesday afternoon, Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said that it is very likely that Turner will play in Game-5 of the NLDS at Dodger Stadium on Thursday.

“I expect JT to be able to play,” Mattingly said. “I don’t think there’s been a huge difference, change from yesterday what he was able to do, so I expect him to play.”