The Philadelphia Phillies are closing in on clinching a bye to the NLDS, and when they inevitably do start their postseason run, they will expect to have their leading hitter in the lineup.
Shortstop Trea Turner is reportedly expected to be back in time for the postseason and could play in Philadelphia’s last homestand next weekend at Citizens Bank Park.
Turner, who leads the NL with a .305 batting average, has not played since sustaining a Grade 1 hamstring strain in Philadelphia’s series finale against the Miami Marlins in South Florida on Sept. 7.
The Phillies are 8-1 in their nine games since Turner went on the IL on Sept. 8. They trail the Milwaukee Brewers by 1.5 games for the No. 1 seed in the NL and have a magic number of four to clinch at least the No. 2 seed in the playoffs.
When Is Trea Turner Coming Back?
The Phillies have been going with Bryson Stott at shortstop in Turner’s absence, and Weston Wilson has been playing Stott’s customary spot of second base.
Wilson has provided some pop, with five home runs in 102 plate appearances despite his .686 OPS — including a two-run homer in the seventh inning that gave the Phillies the lead in their eventual 6-5 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday.
Still, Turner is a key part of the Phillies‘ relentless offense, since he is one of just two National League hitters with a batting average of .300. Plus, Turner’s OPS (.815) also ranks 14th in the NL and third on the Phillies — behind co-stars Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper.
So the Phillies need Turner if they are going to go on a run to their third World Series title in franchise history — and first since 2008. According to John Clark of NBC Sports Philadelphia, Turner will be ready to go soon after he’s eligible to come off the 10-day IL on Thursday.
Good news on Phillies shortstop Trea Turner,” Clark posted on X (formerly Twitter). “He is making good progress with his hamstring issue and is expected to be back before the playoffs start.”
Turner likely needs plate appearances against live pitching before the postseason — especially given the likelihood for a week-plus layoff between the Phillies‘ final regular-season finale against the Minnesota Twins on Sept. 28 and their NLDS Game 1 at Citizens Bank Park.
So that means Turner could opt to return to get those live at-bats and not run hard while his hamstring continues to heal. Though, at this point in the year, having a healthy Turner available for the postseason is far more important.
Is Trea Turner Good In The Playoffs?
Turner won a World Series with the Washington Nationals in 2019 but was not super-effective in their run through the postseason that year.
Yet, Turner has become an elite October player since signing his massive contract with the Phillies after their most recent trip to the World Series in 2022. In 72 postseason plate appearances with the Phillies, Turner is slashing .313/.375/.531 with three home runs and five RBIs — two of those homers came in Philadelphia’s upset of the Atlanta Braves in the 2023 NLDS.
Even last year, in the Phillies‘ surprising four-game loss to the New York Mets, Turner was integral in their one victory by going 2 for 4 with two runs scored and two stolen bases on Game 2, a 7-6 Philadelphia win.
Phillies Get Good News on Trea Turner Ahead of Playoffs