Phillies' Spencer Turnbull: Unlikely to be on NLDS roster
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Phillies manager Rob Thomson indicated Wednesday that Turnbull (lat) is unlikely to be on the NLDS roster, Alex Coffey of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
Thomson said Turnbull was "erratic" during an intrasquad game Wednesday, adding that he believes the righty needs to fine-tune things. Turnbull has been sidelined since late June with a right lat strain and it would appear he'll remain out at least through the first round of the postseason.
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Phillies' Spencer Turnbull: Pitching in intrasquad game
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Turnbull (lat) will pitch in an intrasquad game Wednesday at Citizens Bank Park, MLB.com reports.
Turnbull made a rehab start with Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Sept. 22 and threw 52 pitches in a live batting practice session Sept. 27. If he gets through Wednesday's session without any issues, Turnbull could be included on the Phillies' NLDS roster as a long reliever. He's been sidelined since late June with a right lat strain.
Turnbull (lat) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Sunday.
Sidelined since late June with a right lat strain, Turnbull is finally ready to return to a live setting. He'll be cutting it close, but it appears he'll get a chance to bolster his case for a postseason roster spot with an appearance or two during the final week of the regular season. Turnbull has posted a stellar 2.65 ERA and 1.05 WHIP in 54.1 innings with Philadelphia this season.
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Phillies' Spencer Turnbull: Facing hitters Friday
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Turnbull (lat) will throw a live batting practice session Friday, Destiny Lugardo of Phillies Nation reports.
Turnbull threw an up-and-down bullpen session Monday, clearing the way for him to face hitters for the first time since he was diagnosed with a right lat strain in late June. The Phillies aren't giving up hope that Turnbull could make it back later this month as a reliever, but he can't afford any hiccups.
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Phillies' Spencer Turnbull: Tarnsferred to 60-day IL
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The Phillies transferred Turnbull (lat) from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Saturday.
The move makes room on the 40-man roster for Tyler Gilbert, whose contract was selected from Triple-A Lehigh Valley. Turnbull landed on the 15-day injured list June 27 due to a right lat strain, and his move to the 60-day IL confirms that he won't be ready for activation until at least the final week of August. Whenever he eventually rejoins the big club, Turnbull is expected to work out of the bullpen for the remainder of the season. He has been limited to bullpen sessions since the start of August and has yet to embark on a minor-league rehab assignment.
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Phillies' Spencer Turnbull: Preparing to return as reliever
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Phillies manager Rob Thomson suggested Saturday that Turnbull (lat) is highly unlikely to fill a rotation spot once he's ready to return from the 15-day injured list, MLB.com reports. "It's going to be tough at this point," Thomson said when asked about bringing Turnbull back as a starter.
Turnbull had a productive six-start run for the Phillies to begin the season before shifting to the bullpen, but he moved back into the rotation in late June, when No. 5 starter Taijuan Walker landed on the shelf. His second stint in the rotation ended after just one start, as Turnbull was diagnosed with a right lat strain following his June 26 outing versus the Tigers. Given the long-term nature of the injury, Turnbull was always going to face an uphill battle making a full recovery and having enough time to get stretched back out for a starting role before the end of the season. After Turnbull experienced soreness during a recent bullpen session earlier this month, the Phillies seem to have now officially closed the door on the right-hander contributing as a starter. Thomson suggested that Turnbull isn't dealing with any major setback and is expected to get back on the mound later in the week following some extra rest as he prepares to fill a multi-inning relief role for the Phillies upon his return. The Phillies likely won't have a clear target date for Turnbulll to come off the IL until he begins a minor-league rehab assignment.
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Phillies' Spencer Turnbull: Completes side session
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Turnbull (lat) tossed a 10-pitch bullpen session Monday at Citizens Bank Park, MLB.com reports.
Assuming Turnbull escaped the side session free of setbacks, he'll shift his rehab program to the Phillies' spring training facility in Clearwater, Fla. and continue building back up. At the time Turnbull was placed on the 15-day injured list June 27 with a right lat strain, manager Rob Thomson estimated that the right-hander would be sidelined for 6-to-8 weeks. Since Turnbull doesn't look as though he'll be a realistic option to return from the IL until mid-to-late August, the Phillies have already indicated that the 31-year-old probably won't have sufficient time to get stretched out for a starting role and will likely be ticketed for the bullpen.
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Phillies' Spencer Turnbull: Plays catch Saturday
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Turnbull (lat) was cleared to resume playing catch Saturday at the Phillies' facility in Clearwater, Fla., MLB.com reports.
Turnbull looks to be trending positively in his recovery from the strained right lat he sustained June 26, but he still has several checkpoints to hit in the rehab process before making his return from the 15-day injured list. Phillies manager Rob Thomson previously said that Turnbull was likely facing a 6-to-8-week recovery timeline, so the right-hander shouldn't be expected back from the IL until middle or late August.
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Phillies' Spencer Turnbull: Expected to miss 6-to-8 weeks
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Phillies manager Rob Thomson said Thursday that he expects Turnbull (lat) to be sidelined for 6-to-8 weeks, Alex Coffey of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
Turnbull suffered a right lat strain in his first start back in the Phillies' rotation Wednesday and was placed on the 15-day injured list Thursday. Given the pitcher's lengthy injury history, the team will proceed with extra caution. Michael Mercado will slide into the Philadelphia rotation for now, at least until Taijuan Walker (finger) is ready.
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Phillies' Spencer Turnbull: Headed to IL with strained lat
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The Phillies placed Turnbull (shoulder) on the 15-day injured list Thursday with a right lat strain.
Turnbull had to depart Wednesday's start against the Tigers with right shoulder soreness. While the pitcher downplayed the injury after the game, subsequent testing revealed a lat strain. It's not yet clear how much time Turnbull might miss, but it's certainly the type of injury that could cost the right-hander several weeks. With Taijuan Walker (finger) also still out for a while, Michael Mercado could enter the Phillies' rotation.
Turnbull said after Wednesday's 6-2 win over the Tigers that he felt "a little grab" in his right shoulder during his penultimate pitch of the third inning but noted that he isn't especially concerned about the injury, Scott Lauber of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
Making his first start for the Phillies since April 30 as a replacement in the rotation for Taijuan Walker (finger), Turnbull struck out two and allowed one run on one hit and two walks before leaving the game following the bottom of the third inning. The Phillies labeled his injury as a sore shoulder, but he'll undergo further testing Thursday as the team looks to get a more precise diagnosis. The upcoming tests should also help clarify whether Turnbull will be ready to go for his next turn through the rotation, which would fall next week in Chicago at Wrigley Field. Michael Mercado would likely be the next man up to enter the rotation if Turnbull needs to join Walker on the 15-day injured list.
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Phillies' Spencer Turnbull: Moving back into rotation
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Turnbull is scheduled to join the rotation and start Wednesday against the Tigers in Detroit, Lochlahn March of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
He'll be taking over the rotation spot that previously belonged to Taijuan Walker, who was placed on the 15-day injured list with right index finger inflammation after developing what manager Rob Thomson termed as a "hot spot" on his pitching hand. Though an injury of this sort wouldn't seem to portend a lengthy absence for Walker, Turnbull could end up sticking around as the Phillies' No. 5 starter once Walker is healthy, so long as Turnbull comes close to recapturing the excellent form he displayed as a member of the rotation earlier this season. The Phillies have stated that they plan to monitor Turnbull's workload this season after he missed all of 2022 while recovering from Tommy John surgery and a large portion of 2023 due to neck discomfort, but the 31-year-old right-hander has made it difficult for the club to stick to that plan while he's performed so-so as a reliever (4.26 ERA, 14.1 K-BB% in 10 appearances) but exceptionally in his six starts (1.67 ERA, 20.5 K-BB%). His upcoming start against his former Tigers club will be his first since April 30, but Turnbull worked three scoreless innings (49 pitches) in his most recent relief outing Friday and is being targeted for around 70 pitches Wednesday, per Thomson.
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Phillies' Spencer Turnbull: Staying in bullpen
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Manager Rob Thomson said Tuesday that Turnbull will stay in the bullpen while the Phillies remain committed to Taijuan Walker as their No. 5 starter, Dan Gelston of the Associated Press reports.
While Walker began the season on the injured list, Turnbull secured a spot in the Opening Day rotation and dazzled over his six starts, going 2-0 with a 1.67 ERA, 0.84 WHIP and 36:10 K:BB in 32.1 innings. Shortly after Walker returned from the IL in late April, the Phillies opted to move Turnbull to the bullpen rather than expanding the rotation to six men. Though his performance has taken a step back upon his move to the bullpen, Turnbull is coming off an impressive showing against the Cardinals on Saturday, when he struck out six over three scoreless frames. Walker, meanwhile, hasn't pitched into the seventh inning of his last five turns through the rotation and is sitting on a 5.73 ERA and 1.59 WHIP in 37.2 innings overall through seven starts on the season. At this point, Walker's exorbitant four-year, $72 million contract may be the main reason he's still in the rotation, but his leash has undoubtedly gotten shorter. Walker will start Sunday's game against the Mets in London, but another poor showing could prompt Thomson to change his tune and give Turnbull another look in the rotation.
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Phillies' Spencer Turnbull: Tosses two innings of relief
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Turnbull threw two innings of relief Tuesday against the Blue Jays, walking one but allowing no hits or runs.
Turnbull was expected to pitch in some sort of piggyback setup with Cristopher Sanchez, but Tuesday's game didn't entirely fit that pattern. Sanchez threw seven innings of one-run ball before turning it over to Turnbull in the eighth with the Phillies up 8-1. Turnbull's outing therefore wound up looking much more like traditional low-leverage relief work than a proper piggybacking arrangement. It's not yet clear whether Turnbull will be used as a typical reliever for the foreseeable future or if the Phillies will keep him lined up with Sanchez's starts.
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Phillies' Spencer Turnbull: Will follow Sanchez in relief
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Phillies manager Rob Thomson said that Turnbull will pitch in relief Tuesday against the Blue Jays, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.
Thomson wouldn't reveal exactly how Turnbull will be used, but Gelb says the right-hander will likely pitch three innings or so in what could be a piggyback situation with starter Cristopher Sanchez. Turnbull was demoted to the bullpen recently in spite of a 1.67 ERA and 36:10 K:BB in 32.1 innings this season, as the team has an eye on his workload since he hasn't thrown more than 56.2 innings in a season since 2019.
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Phillies' Spencer Turnbull: Available in relief Sunday
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Turnbull will be available out of the Phillies bullpen Sunday versus the Giants, Alex Coffey of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
Turnbull could end up piggybacking starter Taijuan Walker, though manager Rob Thomson didn't explicitly say that would be the case. From a performance standpoint, Turnbull has earned a spot in Philadelphia's rotation with a 1.67 ERA and 36:10 K:BB in 32.1 innings this season, but the team also wants to keep an eye on his workload since he hasn't thrown more than 56.2 innings in a season since 2019. Turnbull seems likely to make another start at some point in the not-too-distant future, but it may take an injury to another starter before that happens.
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Phillies' Spencer Turnbull: Strikes out eight Wednesday
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Turnbull didn't factor into the decision Wednesday against Cincinnati, allowing one run on three hits and three walks over five innings. He struck out eight.
It was another strong effort from Turnbull, who set a season high with eight strikeouts while allowing just one run on a Will Benson solo homer in the third inning. Turnbull has been exceptional to start the year, going 2-0 with a 1.33 ERA, 0.85 WHIP and 30:10 K:BB through 27 innings. Still, with Taijuan Walker (shoulder) returning from the IL, Turnbull will head to the bullpen in an effort to manage his innings. The right-hander figures to be first in line should the Phillies need help in the rotation later this season.
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Phillies' Spencer Turnbull: Move to bullpen coming soon
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Phillies manager Rob Thomson implied Friday that Turnbull will likely move to the bullpen after he starts Wednesday's game in Cincinnati, MLB.com reports.
Taijuan Walker (shoulder) tossed 6.1 innings and 102 pitches in his latest rehab start Sunday with Triple-A Lehigh Valley, setting him up to return from the 15-day injured list and take back a spot in the rotation next weekend in San Diego. Rather than making room for both Walker and Turnbull and expanding the rotation to six men, the latter is poised to head to the bullpen as the Phillies look to manage his innings. Even with Turnbull's upcoming move to relief, Thomson is optimistic that the right-hander can get enough work to stay stretched out in the event a spot in the rotation opens up again. Turnbull has been tremendous thus far for any managers in deeper mixed leagues or NL-only leagues that scooped him up in the later rounds of drafts, as he's gone 2-0 with a 1.23 ERA, 0.77 WHIP and 22:7 K:BB across 22 innings.
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Phillies' Spencer Turnbull: Stellar vs. White Sox
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Turnbull (2-0) earned the win Friday against the White Sox, allowing one hit and two walks over seven scoreless innings. He struck out six.
Turnbull held Chicago without a hit through six innings, eventually allowing a lone one-out single to Gavin Sheets in the seventh en route to a 7-0 Phillies victory. Turnbull has been a revelation in Philadelphia so far this season, holding opponents scoreless in three of his first four starts. The 31-year-old right-hander lowered his ERA to 1.23 with a 0.77 WHIP and 22:7 K:BB across 22 innings. Turnbull is currently on track for a road matchup with the Reds in his next outing, but it could be his last for the time being with Taijuan Walker (shoulder) close to making his season debut.
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Phillies' Spencer Turnbull: Takes step back Saturday
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Turnbull came away with a no-decision Saturday, giving up three runs on four hits and four walks over four-plus innings in a 4-3 win over the Pirates. He struck out three.
The right-hander was looking good through four innings but failed to get an out in the fifth, allowing a leadoff single to Alika Williams, a two-run homer to Oneil Cruz and a walk to Bryan Reynolds before getting the hook. Turnbull tossed 48 of 88 pitches for strikes as he gave up his first earned runs of the season, and through three starts he still sports a 1.80 ERA, 0.93 WHIP and 16:5 K:BB in 15 innings. He'll try to get back on track against a familiar foe, as the former Tiger lines up to make his next start at home next weekend against the White Sox.
