Following a confusing report, a left knee injury has Brice Turang sidelined while the Milwaukee Brewers await MRI results.
It has been an unusual week for Milwaukee Brewers second baseman Brice Turang.
After Milwaukee faced the San Diego Padres on Tuesday, manager Pat Murphy misspoke and said Turang was dealing with a sprained thumb. That naturally created concern among Brewers fans heading into Wednesday.
Turang was ultimately in the lineup, with Murphy acknowledging that Jackson Chourio, not Turang, was the player dealing with the thumb injury.
Turang played against San Diego on Wednesday and finished 1-for-5 with an RBI in a 4-3 loss.
However, he was absent from Milwaukee’s lineup against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Thursday night because of an entirely different injury. According to Adam McCalvy from MLB.com, Turang is dealing with pain in his left knee and underwent an MRI yesterday.
McCalvy reported that Murphy does not yet know how long Turang could be sidelined. The Brewers are seeking a second opinion on the MRI, although Murphy indicated that the injury does not currently appear to require surgery.
How long will Turang be out?
The manager also did not rule Turang out for the rest of the series.
Earlier in the week, learning that Turang was not dealing with a thumb injury appeared to be excellent news for Milwaukee. Just days later, however, the Brewers are waiting for additional information about his knee.
The encouraging part is that Murphy does not believe surgery will be necessary. Considering Turang underwent an MRI, that is an important development. He also has not been ruled out for tonight.
The best-case scenario would have Turang returning tonight or tomorrow against the Dodgers without risking further damage to his knee. The worst-case scenario would involve a stint on the Injured List.
Milwaukee returned to the win column Thursday with a 5-4 victory over the Dodgers. The Brewers needed the result after being swept by San Diego earlier in the week.
The Chicago Cubs have been closing the gap atop the National League Central, but Milwaukee’s victory combined with a Cubs loss against the Washington Nationals restored the Brewers’ division lead to four games.
Turang’s value
For Milwaukee to operate at its best, Turang is an important part of the equation.
He is slashing .268/.360/.450 with 16 home runs, 76 RBIs, and 16 stolen bases in 115 games this season.
Turang’s value comes from his ability to contribute in several different ways. His athleticism gives Milwaukee another threat on the bases, while his versatility as a hitter allows him to influence games without depending exclusively on power.
He also provides stability in the middle of the infield. Second base demands range, awareness and consistency, particularly for a team attempting to protect narrow leads during a division race.
Turang’s combination of speed, defensive ability and offensive versatility makes him difficult to replace with one player.
That is why the Brewers will be hoping the second opinion confirms the initial encouraging indication and allows Turang to return without an extended absence.
