It’s probably safe to say that at some point in our lives, we have all experienced a strained hamstring to some degree, especially if we ever participated in sports. And if we learned anything from those hamstring strains, it’s that they do not heal overnight – or two, or three, (etc.).

In the top of the seventh inning of Friday night’s painful 6-2 Dodgers loss to the AL West third-place Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field in Arlington, TX, Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner pulled up lame with an apparent hamstring injury after successfully stealing second base following his two-out single.

Immediately after stealing the bag, Turner pointed to the Dodgers dugout to indicate that he was hurt. He was subsequently removed from the game, with Dodgers utility infielder Matt Beaty taking his place on second base and remaining in the game at first base, with Max Muncy moving from first base to third.

“We’re thinking more cramp than mild strain,” Roberts told reporters after the game. “We feel pretty good with where he’s at.”

Roberts added that the extremely popular 35-year-old Long Beach, CA native will not play in Game-2 of the three-game interleague series against the Ranger on Saturday and will be re-evaluated before Sunday’s series finale.

Dodger fans may recall that Turner was hit by a pitch on the back of his left hamstring last week that forced him to be removed from that game as well. He did, however, play in both games of Thursday’s doubleheader in San Francisco, serving as the designated hitter in the nightcap. As a surprise to no one, he was hit by pitches in both of those games.

Hamstring issues are nothing new for Turner, who becomes a free agent at the conclusion of the COVID-19-shortened 2020 season. He spent three weeks on the injured list in 2014 for a right hamstring issue and missed time in 2017 for a left hamstring injury.

Turner’s absense, however long, is a big blow to the Dodgers, as he is currently their fourth best hitter at .282 behind only shortstop Corey Seager (.312), catcher Austin Barnes (.293), and right fielder Mookie Betts (.286).

One can only hope (and pray) that Turner’s latest hamstring issue is indeed only a cramp and not a strain.

Play Ball!

  *  *  *  *  *  * 

* * UPDATE * *

Roberts confirmed that it is indeed Turner’s left hamstring and that it is indeed a “low-grade strain.”

  *  *  *  *  *  *