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LOS ANGELES — The Dodgers got half of the left side of their infield back for the series opener against the Giants, with Corey Seager returning to the starting lineup for a potential division-clinching game. But third baseman Justin Turner sits on Friday one day after getting hit by a pitch on his right thumb.
Turner was hit by a pitch on the right thumb in the first inning on Thursday against the Phillies, and left the game after playing one defensive inning. His thumb is still sore, but Turner is also sick, which is more the reason he’s not playing on Friday.
“He’s probably unavailable tonight, but I expect him back in there tomorrow,” manager Dave Roberts said.
Seager, who has four of the Dodgers’ nine home runs against the Giants in 2017, is back at shortstop two days after fouling a ball off his right ankle on Wednesday in Philadelphia. He didn’t play on Thursday.
Starting lineups
| Pos | Giants | Pos | Dodgers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pos | Giants | Pos | Dodgers |
| CF | Hernandez | CF | Taylor |
| 2B | Panik (L) | SS | Seager (L) |
| 1B | Posey | 1B | Bellinger (L) |
| RF | Pence | RF | Granderson (L) |
| SS | Crawford (L) | LF | Ethier (L) |
| C | Hundley | C | Grandal (S) |
| 3B | Sandoval (S) | 2B | Utley (L) |
| LF | Williamson | 3B | Forsythe |
| P | Samardzija | P | Hill (L) |
Yasiel Puig is getting a day off on Friday, with Curtis Granderson in right field and Andre Ethier in left field. For Ethier, it’s his sixth start since returning from the disabled list. He has literally started once per series, which figures to be the plan to get ready for what is likely a reserve role in the postseason, after missing the first five months of the year.
“We’ve managed him well. Andre has taken care of himself very well,” Roberts said. “To keep Andre current, and get him some starts, to then be able to use him off the bench, that gives him and us the best opportunity.”
Ethier is 8-for-25 with two home runs and a double since returning, including a pinch-hit home run on Thursday in Philadelphia.
Roberts said the team would likely be back to using the usual lineup — depending on the handedness of the opposing pitcher, of course — on Saturday.
“Where we’re at, it’s important for us to get back to playing good baseball. There is something to getting some rest but we are going to have three, four days after the regular season to get that recovery back,” Roberts told MLB Network Radio on Friday. “For us more importantly, it’s about playing good baseball and getting our guys in roles they might see during the postseason which goes to the bench and the bullpen guys.. That’s what I can envision the next 10 days.”