May 15, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Spencer Turnbull (22) throws a pitch during the seventh inning against the New York Mets at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Spencer Turnbull walked into the Phillies Clubhouse after Tuesday's workout with his loaded duffle bag over his shoulder.
There was a large scrum of media members near his locker talking to his clubhouse neighbor Aaron Nola.
But, as soon as Turnbull arrived, there were a few interested parties in talking to him. After all, Turnbull hadn't been around for a while. He was down in Clearwater rehabbing and then threw two innings in a rehab assignment with Triple-A Lehigh Valley two Sundays ago.
Last week, he threw a live batting practice. He threw 52 pitches.
"I feel like I'm ready," he said.
And the Phillies could be as ready to welcome him back.
All indications point to the Phillies going with a 12-man pitching staff for the NLDS. They will carry four starters and eight relievers.
Of those 12 pitchers, 11 are givens:
The 12th spot is publicly unknown at the moment, but Phillies President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski said he expects the 12th guy to be a pitcher who can throw multiple innings.
Enter Turnbull.
“Better late than never…put it on my tombstone.”
Spencer Turnbull is back and will pitch in tomorrow’s sim game @SportsRadioWIP pic.twitter.com/w0OtMaB5JH
Sure, there are other options. Max Lazar did a fine job when he was up with the big club. Kolby Allard was serviceable in his time with the Phillies. And there's Taijuan Walker.
OK... kidding. He's not in consideration and is truly only a break-glass-in-case-of-emergency option at this point.
But Turnbull offers the Phillies something that the others don't - a guy who can pitch 3-4 innings in any role and be able to do so effectively.
It's been a frustrating year for Turnbull. He started off so effectively, filling the void as the Phillies No. 5 starter in Apri and May and was so good that even after the Phillies moved him to the bullpen, there were chants from the Phillies crowd on the nights that Walker started, imploring Phillies manager Rob Thomson to consider a different option.
"We want Turnbull," they chanted. Eventually, Thomson and the Phillies heard their pleas, and accommodated their request. Turnbull went back into the rotation on June 26th to make a start against his former team - the Detroit Tigers.
It started well, but Turnbull had to leave the game after just three innings feeling something grab in the back of his throwing shoulder.
Turns out he had a right lat strain and needed to be shut down. The hope was to try and get him back in about two months, but that didn't go according to plan either.
"I had a little setback in August, and I just had to slow it back down," Turnbull said. "But we kind of mapped out the days I had left and right at that point I was like, 'alright, it's not about trying to get back in the regular season anymore, Just make sure you are ready for the postseason.' That was when we kind of shifted focus."
And that focus is to be a guy who can give the Phillies bulk innings if needed. But his repertoire also plays in other situations.
You genuinely could not have asked for a better Phillies debut than what Spencer Turnbull just completed.
5 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 7 K
pic.twitter.com/kMxoC6CXPT
The Phillies could use him as a piggyback for Suarez if he continues to struggle. They could save him as a multi-inning guy for a game that might creep into extra innings. They can also use him to eat some innings in a game they are up big or behind big to save the bullpen.
He's valuable - and likely would be considered in a more trusted role than Walker was a season ago when he was on the Phillies playoff roster for three series and never used.
Turnbull could be even more important of a bullpen piece in the NLDS because the Phillies are planning on carrying one fewer pitcher than expected so they can have an extra bat on the bench with the platooning necessary at two outfield positions.
"I feel like I could do three or four (innings) at this point," Turnbull said. "Whatever they want me to do."
Turnbull is taking today's intrasquad game seriously. He wants to leave an impression that he can be counted on as a key piece to the puzzle.
"I want to get through it healthy, look sharp and give a good showing so they feel confident with where I'm at and they can make a decision from there," Turnbull said."
And it could be an incredibly important decision - albeit an under-the-radar one - for the Phillies.
