3 Phillies who are on thin ice over the final month of the season
These Phillies don't have much time left to prove their worth to the team.
The Philadelphia Phillies are entering the final few weeks of the 2024 regular season. The team is aiming to get through September healthy and playing with momentum with the playoffs due to begin in October.
While the Phillies have a talented roster capable of going on a lengthy playoff run this fall, some players may not return to the franchise in 2025. If the team is eliminated from the postseason early, such as in a Wild Card or Divisional series, there could be more changes than anticipated.
3 Phillies who are on thin ice over the final month of the season
No matter how the franchise does in the postseason, here are three Phillies who are on thin ice over the final month of the season.
Spencer Turnbull
Spencer Turnbull started the year strong filling in as the number five starter for an injured Taijuan Walker. During six starts in April, the native of Demopolis, Alabama finished with a 1.67 ERA and a WHIP of 0.84. He allowed six earned runs and 10 walks. The right-hander totaled 36 strikeouts.
Manager Rob Thomson moved Turnbull to the bullpen at the end of April once Walker returned from the IL. The former Detroit Tiger had an erratic May as a reliever based on his 7.00 ERA during the month. His last appearance to date came as a starter on June 26 in a contest versus the Tigers. He left the game with what turned out to be a right lat strain and has been on the IL ever since.
The Phillies hope he can return before the end of the regular season. Depending on when and if he returns in September, Turnbull would presumably be available as a reliever. However, the team's fifth starter is up in the air with Walker now being used out of the bullpen and Tyler Phillips being optioned back to Triple-A with the Lehigh Valley IronPigs. Pitcher Kolby Allard appears to be Philadelphia's best option as the team's fifth starter for the remainder of the regular season. However, he can't be recalled from Lehigh Valley until Sept. 10.
Turnbull likely will not make another start for the Phillies this year. Considering that he has been out for over two months, Philadelphia has adjusted to being without him. He will be a free agent at the end of the year and the club may look within their organization or elsewhere in free agency or via trade to fill his spot.
José Alvarado
José Alvarado was one of the Phillies' most reliable relievers from April through June. The left-hander totaled a 0.90 ERA and a 0.80 WHIP in 11 April appearances. He finished with four saves in as many opportunities during the month.
The Maracaibo, Venezuela native had a solid May, finishing with a 2.13 ERA and 1.11 WHIP in 13 appearances. Alvarado totaled four saves in five opportunities, 11 punchouts, and surrendered three earned runs and three walks.
Alvarado finished June with a 2.79 ERA and a 0.83 WHIP in 10 contests. He had three saves in four chances and 13 strikeouts. The 29-year-old allowed two walks and three earned runs in 9 2/3 innings. Based on how the rest of his season has gone, he has not looked like the same pitcher capable of pitching in high-leverage situations.
The reliever did not do well in July, totaling an 8.31 ERA and a 1.85 WHIP in 10 games. Alvarado had one save in two opportunities, surrendering eight earned runs, and five walks in the process. He tied his season-high for hits allowed during a month with 11.
Alvarado's struggles continued during August. He did not have a save opportunity for the first time in 2024. The left-hander compiled a 4.66 ERA and a 1.86 WHIP in 10 appearances. He surrendered five earned runs and eight walks along with seven strikeouts before being placed on the restricted list while he dealt with a personal situation involving his family. He returned to the Phillies only a few days later.
Thomson should not use Alvarado in high-leverage situations for the remainder of the regular season and during the playoffs. The reliever has proven unreliable over the last two months and the organization could seek to move on from him this offseason. He has a club option in 2026 but why should the team hold onto him for another year if he is not dependable in late innings of a game?
Taijuan Walker
Walker has had a difficult 2024 season with Philadelphia. He did not make his first start of the year until the end of April due to an injury. He missed all of July after being placed on the IL in June with right index finger inflammation.
When he has been healthy, the right-hander has not been very effective. Walker's 4.78 ERA during May is his lowest of the season to date. During five starts, he totaled 21 punchouts and surrendered 14 earned runs and 10 walks.
During June, Walker finished with a 5.75 ERA and a 1.33 WHIP in four starts. He allowed nine walks, 13 earned runs and had 18 strikeouts in 20.1 innings. The 32-year-old surrendered six home runs including three versus the Arizona Diamondbacks on June 21.
Walker's volatile season continued during his four starts in August, finishing the month with a whopping 9.17 ERA and a 2.09 WHIP. He allowed 18 earned runs including six in consecutive appearances on Aug. 23 against the Kansas City Royals and on Aug. 28 versus the Houston Astros.
The native of Shreveport, Louisiana appeared to be on thin ice following his start versus the Royals. Following Walker's appearance against the Astros, Thomson decided to move the struggling veteran to the bullpen.
Against the Toronto Blue Jays on Sept. 3, the right-hander allowed two earned runs, one home run, and four hits in three innings. Walker is still owed $18 million by the Phillies in each of the next two seasons. Considering how erratic he has been as a starter this year, Philadelphia may move on from him in the offseason.
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