Dodgers’ Justin Turner thinks Mets’ Matt Harvey would pitch in playoffs

In Justin Turner’s mind, there is no doubt.

If the Dodgers play the New York Mets in the opening round of the playoffs, the third baseman said, they will have to face Matt Harvey.

“Knowing Matt the way I know him, there’s no way in hell he’s not going to take the ball in the playoffs,” Turner said.

Turner was Harvey’s teammate with the Mets for two seasons. Turner became close with the former All-Star, who has pitched 166 1/3 innings in his first season after undergoing Tommy John surgery. Harvey’s agent, surgeon and team are now engaged in a public debate about whether the right-hander should be limited to 180 innings this season.

The final decision could affect the Dodgers, who are currently in position to take on the Mets in a National League division series.

Turner raised the example of Stephen Strasburg of the Washington Nationals. Strasburg, who like Harvey is represented by Scott Boras, didn’t pitch in the 2012 playoffs under similar conditions. The Nationals, who were considered World Series contenders, were eliminated in the first round.

The Nationals missed the playoffs the following season. They reached the postseason last year, only to be eliminated again in the first round.

“I think if you ask any guy in here what they want to do, they’re going to say, ‘The reason I’ve played this game my whole life is to try to win a World Series,’” Turner said. “From my experience with Matt and what I know of him, I don’t think he has it in him to be able to sit back and watch his teammates compete in the playoffs while he’s on the sidelines.”

Turner said he understands why Boras is advocating for the Mets to carefully handle Harvey.

“Obviously, his agent is trying to have his best interests,” Turner said.

Dodgers Manager Don Mattingly said he has also followed the controversy.

“It’s interesting from the standpoint of an agent telling you what you should do with a guy,” Mattingly said.

Mattingly declined to offer an opinion on the subject, but said, “You wonder if it’s going to have an effect on the team, all that kind of stuff. It will be interesting to see how it plays out.”

Prized possession

There was nothing to negotiate, no ransom to be paid.

In the aftermath of the Dodgers’ 8-4 victory over the San Diego Padres on Friday night, rookie outfielder Scott Schebler had in his possession the baseball he launched for his first career major league home run.

“I guess they threw it back on the field,” Schebler said.

If the fans at Petco Park hadn’t returned the baseball and demanded payment for it, how much would Schebler have paid?

Schebler laughed and replied, “I have no idea. I don’t know if you can put a price on that.”

What made the home run even more memorable was that it was hit off James Shields.

“To do it off James Shields is pretty special,” Schebler said. “Just to get it out of the way is nice too.”

Up in the air

The Dodgers are still undecided whether slumping Mat Latos will make his next turn in the rotation.

Mattingly said Zack Greinke and Clayton Kershaw will start the first two games of a three-game series against the Angels in Anaheim that starts Monday. Mattingly wouldn’t name a starter for the series finale Wednesday, which falls on Latos’ turn in the rotation.

dylan.hernandez@latimes.com

Twitter: @dylanohernandez