The Philadelphia Phillies have positioned themselves perfectly to secure a bye straight into the NLDS. Since late July, they’ve been one of the hottest teams in baseball, riding strong momentum with their sights set on capturing the National League Pennant. After clinching the NL East title for a second straight year, manager Rob Thomson continues to prove why he’s regarded as one of the top skippers in the game.
Still, the team has faced a setback with star shortstop Trea Turner sidelined for just over two weeks due to a hamstring injury suffered in early September. His absence has sparked concern about his readiness for the postseason. Ahead of the Phillies’ final regular-season series, Thomson provided a significant update on Turner’s status.
Rob Thomson gives a major Trea Turner update
Phillies fans received encouraging news on Trea Turner’s playoff status thanks to an update shared by team writer Matt Gelb on X. Turner “had another good day,” running and hitting against minor-league pitching. Manager Rob Thomson noted that the star shortstop will be ready for the postseason, though he added that Turner’s chances of playing in the final regular-season series remain uncertain.
Philadelphia closes out the year against the Minnesota Twins. While the Phillies technically still have a path to the NL’s top seed, it would take a sweep over Minnesota and a Reds sweep of the Brewers—an unlikely scenario. That means the club is more focused on staying healthy and giving key players some rest heading into October.
For Turner, however, a few plate appearances this weekend could help shake off any rust before the postseason grind begins. He’s in the middle of his best campaign as a Phillie, leading the National League in batting average (.305) and hits (179), while posting a bWAR north of 5.0 along with 15 homers and 69 RBIs—production that has set the tone from the top of the lineup.
