Trea

Turner

Turner is off to a slow start, reminiscent of the struggles he encountered after first signing with the Phillies in 2023. Notably, his strikeout rate is back over 20 percent, and he’s sporting his lowest SLG since a 44-plate-appearance sample in 2015. Turner’s 11-year pact runs through 2033, so the hope is that he picks it up in a hurry here in June.

The Phillies swapping Kyle Schwarber and Turner at the top of the lineup has worked out nicely the last two days. Turner has homered in both games, and Schwarber delivered an RBI single from the leadoff spot today, as the two combined to drive in all three of Philadelphia’s runs. Turner now has seven homers and 11 steals this season.

Turner extended the Phillies’ lead in the third inning with a solo homer off Randy Vásquez. He then knocked a base hit in the fifth and stole second, putting some power and speed on display on Tuesday. The 32-year-old shortstop is hitting .225/.279/.347 with six homers, 33 runs scored, 17 RBI, and 10 steals across 240 plate appearances.

Phillies interim manager Don Mattingly has flipped Schwarber and Trea Turner on his lineup card. It’s something the club has done in the past and doesn’t carry massive fantasy ramifications. Schwarber launched his big league-leading 21st round-tripper during Monday’s series opener and has gone deep 10 times in 20 games since the start of May.

Turner turned in a poor game here despite riding a seven-game hit streak heading into it. Gavin Williams had everything going against the Phillies here, so it’s hard to hold him accountable for going hit-less against him. Yet, coming up to lead-off the ninth inning in a one run game, Turner offered at a first-pitch sweeper from Cade Smith that was in on his hands and popped it up to the shortstop. It’s little things like – swinging at the first pitch in a one-run game – that really build up the frustration with Turner’s slow start. On the season, he has a .234 batting average and 639 OPS. That is rough.

Turner also scored on a 255-foot flyout to left from Bryce Harper that almost no one else would have tried tagging up on. Turner has hit in seven straight games. Even better for fantasy leaguers is that he’s attempted seven steals in his last 11 games, succeeding six times. He was 3-for-3 through his first 38 games.

Turner knocked a base hit to lead off the game and scored on a three-run homer by Bryce Harper. He then drew a walk in the second and scored a second time on a Kyle Schwarber double. Turner would collect an RBI of his own on a double in the eighth. The 32-year-old shortstop is hitting .237/.289/.344 with four homers, 28 runs scored, 14 RBI, and six steals across 201 plate appearances.

Turner was held out of the Phillies’ lineup on Wednesday as he was feeling a bit under the weather, but he’s right back in there in his customary leadoff spot against former teammate Ranger Suarez on Thursday evening. The dynamic 32-year-old shortstop has hit just .234/.286/.345 with four homers, 13 RBI and five stolen bases through his first 185 plate appearances on the season.

Phillies interim manager Don Mattingly told reporters Turner could potentially be available off the bench. The 32-year-old power/speed combo threat has hit a bit of a rough patch recently, hitting .182 (8-for-44) with 10 strikeouts since the start of May. It’ll be Edmundo Sosa taking over at shortstop and hitting ninth with a sizzling-hot Kyle Schwarber moving up to the leadoff spot to face Red Sox veteran righty Sonny Gray at Fenway Park.

Turner had as many hits today as he totaled in his previous 32 at-bats this month. The stolen base was also his first since Apr. 21. He’s been quite a disappointment thus far, but it’s not like he’s a stranger to slow starts. His two lowest career OPSs by month are .737 in May and .781 in April. He’s come in at .880 in September and .872 in August.