Justin Turner leaves game with left groin discomfort

Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner left Sunday’s game against the Angels in the second inning with left groin discomfort, the team announced.

Turner made a diving play into foul territory at third base then threw out José Iglesias at first to rob him of a hit to lead off the second inning. After the frame, Turner was seen limping in the dugout. Turner also reached on a fielder’s choice and stole a base in the bottom of the first, his first steal of the season.

“He’ll be down a few days, and then we’ll reevaluate,” manager Dave Roberts said after the game.

Roberts opted for pinch-hitter Albert Pujols in Turner’s spot in the bottom of the second. Pujols homered to give the Dodgers a 5-0 lead at the time.

At age 36, Turner has enjoyed his most durable season with the Dodgers in 2021, starting a team-leading 100 of 112 games, while hitting .289/.376/.491, a 138 wRC+ with 20 home runs, making the All-Star team for the second time in his career.

With Turner out of the game, Max Muncy shifted from first base to third base on Sunday, the first time at the position this season for Muncy. Roberts said this week that with the arrival of Trea Turner in the Dodgers infield, Chris Taylor would see most of his time in the outfield but also play occasionally at third base.

Taylor has started twice at third base this season — one of six positions he’s started at — and he’s played 124 career innings at the position, including 11 starts.

The only other Dodgers this season to start at the hot corner are Zach McKinstry (six starts) and Sheldon Neuse (three starts), both of whom are now in Triple-A, and Edwin Ríos (five starts), who is out for the season after shoulder surgery.