During his daily pregame (Zoom) media briefing on Monday afternoon, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told reporters that their plan – as of this moment – is to activate Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner from the Injured List (strained left hamstring) in time for Tuesday’s crucial Game-2 of their current three-game series with the NL West second-place San Diego Padres at Petco Park.

“He’s going through the regular routine today. Our hope is to activate him tomorrow,” Roberts said. “So, I don’t know the necessary regulations, but I think that if we’re planning on activating him tomorrow, just kind of go through the day with him on the field. So hopefully, that’s the case. But if all goes well today, I hope to have him as a DH tomorrow.”

Turner injured his hamstring while stealing second base in a game against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field on Friday, August 28 (Jackie Robinson Day), and placed on the IL the following day. He was eligible to come off the IL on September 8, but the Dodgers elected to err on the side of caution with the 35-year-old Long Beach, CA native.

Prior to his injury, Turner was 33-for-117 (.282), with seven doubles, one triple, two home runs, and 20 RBIs in the 32 games in which he appeared thus far this season.

As Dodger fans know, the extremely popular heavily-bearded redhead is in the final year of his current four-year / $64 million contract and becomes a free agent at season’s end. And even though many (most) Dodger fans would love to see the Southern California native re-sign with the Dodgers, it is unlikely that Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman would be willing to offer Turner more than a one or two-year deal at most.

That being said, don’t be surprised if Turner is willing to give Friedman and the Dodgers a hometown discount to remain in Dodger Blue.

Play Ball!

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