Right-hander Spencer Turnbull has been a surprise standout in the Phillies’ rotation, stepping in for the injured Taijuan Walker at the beginning of the season. Given how well Turnbull has pitched, it’s hard to see the team moving him to a relief role just because Walker is back from the injured list.
Manager Rob Thomson recently mentioned that the Phillies are exploring creative ways to keep Turnbull in the rotation. Options include using him in a piggyback arrangement with another starter or alternating between Sanchez and Turnbull depending on the matchup (as reported by Corey Seidman of NBC Sports Philadelphia and Todd Zolecki of MLB.com).
Overall, the Phillies’ rotation has been stellar this season. They lead the majors with 190 2/3 innings pitched and have a combined ERA of 2.50, which is second-best. Their strikeout rate is also impressive at 26%, and their ground-ball rate of 52% ranks third in the majors. Phillies starters lead the league with a 3.22 SIERA.
Among the key pitchers, Zack Wheeler and Aaron Nola have had strong starts. Wheeler’s ERA is under 2.00, and he combines high strikeouts with a good walk rate. Nola’s ERA is 3.20, with a consistent strikeout rate and a solid 7% walk rate. Though he’s given up a few home runs, he’s been steady in his first season under his new seven-year contract.
Left-hander Ranger Suarez has been one of the best performers, with a 1.32 ERA across his first six starts. His 27.8% strikeout rate is impressive, and his walk rate is low at 3.5%. His ground-ball rate is also excellent, but he’s benefited from a low .189 BABIP, which might not last.
Cristopher Sanchez has also been solid in the fifth spot, with a 3.68 ERA over 29 1/3 innings. His strikeout rate is decent at 22%, and though his walk rate is a bit high at 9.8%, he compensates with a 62.2% ground-ball rate. Taijuan Walker, who just returned from the injured list, had a rough first start back, but he was a reliable pitcher for the Phillies last season, with a 4.32 ERA in 31 starts.
Turnbull’s performance is right up there with the best of them. In six starts, he’s thrown 32 1/3 innings with a 1.67 ERA and a strong 28.7% strikeout rate, while maintaining a 7.9% walk rate. Though he doesn’t generate ground balls at Suarez or Sanchez’s rate, his 49.4% rate is still above average.
Given Turnbull’s injury history, including his recovery from Tommy John surgery, a piggyback or alternating starter role might be a good way to manage his workload. He hasn’t pitched a full season since 2019, when he made 30 starts for the Tigers.
A simple solution would be to switch to a six-man rotation, but Thomson has indicated that this is unlikely. However they decide to proceed, it’s clear that Turnbull, who signed a modest one-year, $2MM deal, will continue to play a significant role in the Phillies’ pitching plans. He’s on track to earn a much more substantial contract when he hits free agency again next winter.
