Manager Rob Thomson #59 of the Philadelphia Phillies
In the initial 20 games of the season, the Phillies’ rotation has showcased exceptional performance, achieving the franchise’s best Walks plus Hits per Inning Pitched (WHIP) since at least 1900, standing at 1.03. Furthermore, the rotation’s Earned Run Average (ERA) of 2.39 marks its lowest since 1972, accompanied by a remarkably low opponents’ On-Base Plus Slugging (OPS) of .572.
Adding to this, the Phillies entered Saturday’s game with a notable streak of 24 1/3 innings without allowing any earned runs from their starting pitchers, the longest such streak for the team since 2010. Spencer Turnbull further extended this streak during Friday’s victory against the Chicago White Sox, delivering an outstanding performance with seven innings of one-hit shutout pitching. As of Saturday, Turnbull boasts the best ERA (1.23) in the National League.
Despite these impressive achievements, Phillies manager Rob Thomson is considering a potential adjustment by moving Turnbull to the bullpen to accommodate the return of Taijuan Walker, anticipated next week following a right shoulder impingement.
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Thomson has articulated several compelling rationales for this contemplated change. Notably, Walker commands a significantly higher salary this season compared to Turnbull, with figures standing at $18 million and $2 million, respectively. Additionally, Walker brings a more extensive and established track record as a starting pitcher, being a former All-Star who secured 15 wins last year, a milestone Turnbull has yet to achieve in his career.
However, the primary concern revolves around workload management. Turnbull’s recent innings workload has not surpassed 60 since 2019, and he has already pitched 22 innings this season. Requiring him to start every fifth day, after an extended period, raises concerns about potential adverse effects.
Nevertheless, given Turnbull’s current form and performance, there’s a prevailing sentiment of “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” Turnbull’s stellar contributions warrant him retaining his position in the rotation. It stands as his responsibility to maintain this standard.
Considering this, Thomson might find it more prudent to retain Turnbull in the rotation for the time being and gradually reintroduce Walker to ensure his readiness. When Walker demonstrates readiness, a rotation adjustment could be entertained, but preemptive alterations may not be necessary.
Until such a transition is warranted, the Phillies would be well-advised to capitalize on Turnbull’s hot streak and allow him to continue his stellar contributions to the team’s success.
