Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has elected to not include third baseman Justin Turner in the starting lineup for the NLCS Game 2 showdown against starter Ian Anderson and the Atlanta Braves.

Roberts has instead opted to go with Chris Taylor to take hold of the third base position, while the versatile Gavin Lux will patrol center field for Los Angeles.

Roberts noted ahead of the game that Turner was not listed in the Dodgers' starting lineup due to a neck stinger that he suffered during Game 1 against Atlanta.

“We did treat it and he felt he wanted to give it a go and try to play through it,” Roberts said. “He couldn't turn his head to the right. And got through the game, woke up feeling very similar.”

This will end Turner's streak of consecutive postseason starts for the Dodgers, which sits at 77. Still, Roberts did further add that the veteran infielder is expected to be available for Game 3 of the NLCS on Tuesday.

Turner has had grand struggles at the plate after being one of the heroes for the Dodgers in their 2021 NL Wild Card Game win over the St. Louis Cardinals. He hit .050 against the San Francisco Giants in the NLDS. He failed to record an RBI in the series, which was his first time doing so since the 2020 NL Wild Card Series against the Milwaukee Brewers.

Turner subsequently recorded one hit in four at-bats in the Dodgers' NLCS Game 1 loss to the Braves.

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As mentioned, the Dodgers need any kind of offensive spark that they can get for the Game 2 clash with the reigning NL East winners. Dodgers hitters left seven men on base in the Game 1 loss to Atlanta.

Max Scherzer sure will look to do his part to help Los Angeles pick up a crucial win in Game 2. The three-time Cy Young Award winner had grand success against Atlanta in the regular season, which included posting a 3.00 ERA and recording 18 strikeouts in two starts against them.

The Dodgers are aiming for a fourth World Series appearance in five seasons.