Roberts addresses LA injuries; Muncy activated

NEW YORK -- Justin Turner won’t start any of the games during this weekend's series against the Mets because of a sprained left ankle, but is expected back in the lineup Tuesday night, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said on Friday.

Turner came out of Saturday's game against the Giants in the eighth inning and hasn’t played since.

“Each day he gets a little bit better,” Roberts said.

Matt Beaty started at third base Friday night.

? Rich Hill, injured in the first inning of his Thursday night start in Baltimore, has an MRI scheduled for his left knee on Monday.

“Right now, we’re running up against the calendar, but I hesitate to say what we’re going to do with Rich until we know more,” said Roberts.

With Hill essentially eliminated from contention as the fourth starter for the postseason, Roberts hinted that he might not have one, leaving open the possibility of a bullpen game.

“If you look at the potential construction of our relievers, a lot of guys have the ability to go multiple innings,” said Roberts. “There’s nothing that says we have to name a Game 4 starter in the middle of September. However we get there and get through a potential Game 4, I think we’ll have the means and arms to do it.”

Roberts said Ross Stripling will start Tuesday night and Tony Gonsolin will start Wednesday night against Tampa Bay at home. Kenta Maeda remains in the bullpen. The Dodgers are off Monday and Thursday.

? Roberts said it’s “very unlikely” outfielder Alex Verdugo will be active for the first round of the postseason, but left open the possibility of him rejoining the club in a later round. Verdugo has been out more than a month with lingering lower back issues.

Verdugo has been rehabbing in Arizona, but Roberts said he’s coming to Los Angeles next week. He still is not doing any baseball activities.

Muncy back in lineup

Infielder Max Muncy returned from a broken right wrist to start at first base on Friday. He said he’s not 100 percent healed, but was confident he was ready to play. He will wear a protective EvoShield guard similar to ones Turner and Chris Taylor wear after suffering injuries to their left wrists, but Muncy said trainers “kind of MacGyver’d it” so it can be removed when he plays defense and needs the flexibility to throw.

Roberts said he won’t hesitate playing Muncy at second base as well as first, dismissing concerns about his throwing. He was hit by a Matt Strahm pitch in San Diego on Aug. 28.

“It still feels weird, but thankfully I don’t have to make many throws at first,” said Muncy. “It feels better than it did. It doesn’t feel completely normal, but probably won’t for a while.”