Los Angeles Dodgers: Three keys to win the NLCS in Game 6
By Jason Reed
1. Get a good game out of Justin Turner at the plate
Justin Turner is the heart and soul of this Dodgers offense. Even with the likes of Manny Machado, Max Muncy, Cody Bellinger and the rest of the stacked offense, it is Turner that has the biggest impact on the team.
With Corey Seager missing most of the season, the Dodgers turned to a returning Turner to be the savior of the team. That happened to be the case as the Dodgers rebounded from a dreadfully slow start once Turner came off the DL.
In the postseason, it has been the performance of Justin Turner that has had the biggest impact on the team. Not only has Turner come up with some big hits, but his overall presence has also had a positive impact on the team.
When Turner has a good game (and it does not even need to be a great game) the Dodgers are in a great position to win. When Turner has a bad game, the Dodgers offense looks dead.
Turner is a combined 1-9 in the Dodgers’ two losses to Milwaukee in the NLCS and went 0-5 in the 13 inning battle in Game 4. That game really could have gone either way and the offense did look terrible; Turner struggling was a huge reason why.
Meanwhile, in Game 5, Turner went 2-3 with a run scored and an RBI and in game two he had the go-ahead home run. In Game 1, he could have tied or potentially taken the lead with a hit in the ninth inning and a man on third.
The offense goes as Justin Turner goes.