How are Justin Turner, Kenley Jansen and Other Former Dodgers Doing in Boston This Year?

Mookie Betts, Justin Turner, J.D. Martinez, Kenley Jansen, Kiké Hernández, Chris Martin, Ryan Brasier, Alex Verdugo … did I miss anyone?

The Dodgers are in Boston this weekend for a three-game series against the Red Sox, one that’s likely been circled on just about everyone’s calendar since the year began.

This is going to be a series full of reunions and a series full of firsts.

Mookie Betts has never played in Boston as a visitor. Kiké Hernández hasn’t played against the Red Sox since he was traded last month. Justin Turner hasn’t played against the Dodgers — the team that revitalized his career — since their partnership ended this past offseason.

This series is going to be fun, this series is going to be emotional and both teams will likely leave it thinking a little bit about what could have been — mostly Boston.

Red Sox fans are getting their first in-person look at Mookie Betts, a superstar their ownership traded for what felt like pennies on the dollar — and this year, it’s looking to be even worse than that.

And on the other side, Dodger fans are getting their first look at Justin Turner in a new uniform since before they even knew who he was, a player who became a fan favorite on and off the field and a leader in the clubhouse.

As the series opens up with first pitch at 4:10 p.m. PT (rain permitting) — here’s how to watch it — we figured it would be a good idea to check in on how all the biggest former Dodgers are doing in Boston this year. We assume not many Dodger fans are keeping up with them, and it’s nice to see how they’re faring as the stretch run of the season approaches.

So, here’s everything you need to know about the former Dodgers in Boston this year so you aren’t surprised when their numbers pop up on the screen throughout the series.

Justin Turner: The Dodgers essentially chose J.D. Martinez over JT this year, and it’s hard to argue with the results. Martinez was an All-Star starter and has revitalized his career in LA, but Turner is having a dominant season of his own.

After getting off to a slow start (as he always does), JT is slashing .289/.359/.484 this season with 20 home runs, 82 RBIs, 26 doubles and an OPS of .843. He’s on pace to set career-highs in homers and RBIs, in what has been a fantastic year for the 38-year-old.

Kenley Jansen: The Dodgers got a chance to get the emotions out of the way with Jansen last year as a member of the Atlanta Braves. This season — his first in the American League with Boston — he’s been dominant yet again.

In 46 appearances, Jansen has a 2.81 ERA and 1.20 WHIP with 50 strikeouts to just 15 walks. He has 29 saves and made the All-Star team for the first time since 2018.

Alex Verdugo: The man who’s turned out to be the only real piece in the Mookie Betts trade (although Connor Wong is having an okay year), there’s a lot of pressure on Verdugo to perform.

Every April when he has a slightly better OPS than Betts, Red Sox fans make sure to let everyone know. However, that always tends to fade sooner rather than later, and this year is no different.

On the year, Verdugo is slashing .279/.345/.438 with 10 home runs and 49 RBIs. His OPS of .783 is just 227 points below Betts’ NL-leading 1.010.

Verdugo is by no means having a bad year, but at 27 years old, he’s nowhere near one Markus Lynn Betts. At 25/26 years old, Betts became the first player in MLB history to win the MVP, Silver Slugger, Gold Glove, batting title and World Series all in one season. At 30 years old, he’s looking to become the second player ever to win an MVP in the AL and NL.

Chris Martin: The Dodgers acquired Martin at last year’s trade deadline, revitalized his career and helped him earn some solid money this offseason.

While some Mark Prior proteges struggle when leaving the Dodgers (looking at you, Tyler Anderson), Martin has continued his dominance.

On the year, the 37-year-old has a dominant 1.26 ERA, which would be a career-best in a full season if it held. He’s been everything the Red Sox could have asked for and more, and is living up to that two-year, $13.5 million deal.

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