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.