Washington Nationals’ lineup for 3rd of 4 with the Arizona Diamondbacks in D.C.

Trea Turner started last night’s game with a 10-game on-base streak going, over which the 25-year-old shortstop was 13 for 42 (.310/.370/.714) with six doubles, a triple, three homers, four walks, and 13 Ks in 46 plate appearances.

Washington Nationals’ General Manager Mike Rizzo talked to 106.7 the FAN in D.C.’s Sports Junkies earlier this week about what Turner’s done for the team in the weeks since he got off the Injured List after recovering from a broken right index finger he suffered four games into the season.

Turner put up a .270/.313/.365 line with four doubles, a triple, four walks, and 10 Ks in 67 PAs in May, after missing 39 games on the IL, and he had a .283/.340/.652 in 50 June PAs before last night’s game.

Rizzo told the Sports Junkies it was no coincidence things picked up for the Nationals once Turner returned to the lineup.

“He’s as important to the lineup as any player that we have, pitcher or player, he plays the most demanding position on the field,” the GM said.

“He’s the captain of the infield, and plays a premium position at shortstop and is one of our offensive catalysts, so he’s a huge part of our ballclub, and when he went down it hurt us very, very badly, and he won’t say it, he won’t use it as an excuse, but this guy played with that finger that was fully healed, but he was probably not 100% swinging the bat. You could tell he would have his finger off the bat quite a bit and launched a few bats into the screen and that type of thing, and was kind of just gutting it through until he got a really good feel for that hand and that finger so I think he’s starting to kind of round into shape, and after missing so many games it takes time to get your rhythm at the plate and in the field.

“And I think you’re seeing a guy that’s finally confident enough in that finger that he can go and play his game and when he’s healthy and he’s on, he’s dynamic as any player in the big leagues and we need him to be healthy and playing well.”

Turner went 1 for 3 with a walk and two runs scored in last night’s 7-3 win, leaving him with a .286/.338/.532 line in 30 games and 136 PAs on the season.

Turner’s back on top of the lineup again this afternoon for the third of four with the D-backs in D.C.

HERE’S THE NATIONALS’ LINEUP FOR TODAY’S GAME WITH THE D-BACKS: