Justin Turner: Waiver Wire Pickup

Jun 24, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman

(10) hits a three-run home run against the Chicago Cubs in the third inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports

The Los Angeles Dodgers have a star on their hands. With all of the uproar about other teams calling up prospects, Justin Turner has been doing it all season. There have been a lot of surprises at third base this season, Turner being one of them. He is still available in a lot of leagues. If he’s on the waiver wire in your league, pick him up now.

Turner has been one of the bright spots for the first-place Dodgers. He didn’t show much during his three years with the New York Mets and last year with the Dodgers. He had just 15 home runs and 129 RBI in 406 games over the last four years. This year has been completely different.

In 64 games, he has 10 home runs, 35 RBI, 25:15 K:BB rate and a .324/.395/.582 line. He is tied for third in home runs and third in RBI among his Los Angeles teammates. He has half of his home runs in the month of June.

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Turner is the player no one thought would start this season, including his own manager. “Well, I’d assume we’d had a lot of injuries, honestly, because I don’t think we pictured him with our club sitting in the 3-hole,” Mattingly said in an interview with The Orange County Register.

Turner is ranked fifth on ESPN’s Player Rater among third basemen over the last 15 days, behind Manny Machado, Todd Frazier, Luis Valbuena and Nolan Arenado.

Another added benefit to adding Turner is that he has eight games started at first base. If you play in a league that adds position eligibility after 10 games, Turner is just two games away. He is behind just three true first basemen (not first baseman-turned-third baseman) on the Player Rater over the last 15 days.

With the contributions Turner makes across the board, average and counting stats, it’s a surprise to see him owned in less than 50 percent of ESPN leagues. He has been added in 38.2 percent of leagues over the last week, but it should definitely be more than that.

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Mattingly can do everything he can to prevent Alex Guerrero from playing, but there’s nothing he can do to stop Turner. There have been rumors about Cuban-star Hector Olivera eventually getting the call. Scouts say he can play second and third base. If he does get called up, it should be to replace Howie Kendrick and not Turner. Luckily, that decision won’t be made anytime soon because Olivera is on the DL with a hamstring.

Until it becomes official, Turner is a must-add player in all leagues. Third base has its stars, but it’s also had its disappointments. Justin Turner is someone who can turn that position around for any owner.