This story was excerpted from Todd Zolecki’s Phillies Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.
Trea Turner got six more at-bats in a live BP session on Wednesday at Citizens Bank Park.
He plans to get a few more on Thursday, just like he plans to increase the intensity of his running. Phillies manager Rob Thomson said he wants to see Turner run at 100 percent before he rejoins the lineup, which he hopes will happen before the end of the weekend.
Turner isn’t running at top speed yet.
“Probably 75 percent,” Thomson said Wednesday. “I don’t know. Seventy-seven [percent].”
There is a healthy optimism that Turner will get there soon. If it doesn’t happen before the end of the weekend, the Phillies absolutely expect him to be ready to play in the NL Division Series.
That would be great news, obviously.
Turner hasn’t played since Sept. 7 because of a strained right hamstring. But even though he hasn’t played in more than two weeks, he still leads the National League in batting average (.305) and hits (179). He still ranks third in WAR (6.7) in the NL, behind Shohei Ohtani (7.2) and Geraldo Perdomo (6.9), according to FanGraphs.
The Phillies on Wednesday clinched a first-round bye over the Dodgers. It has been a focus for the Phils, of course, but it was pretty much a lock entering the week, barring a 1964-like collapse.
It explains why Thomson’s main concern this week has been getting through the regular season with Turner and everybody else healthy.
“It’s always about health, but there’s a lot more focus for me on the health of the players, to strike that balance, to be able to win games, get in, get the bye, try to get the best record, and keeping people healthy,” Thomson said. “Not pushing relievers, position players, everybody. It’s always on my mind, but probably a little more so right now.”
Marlins designated hitter Heriberto Hernández fouled a pitch off J.T. Realmuto’s right hand on Tuesday night. It looked ugly, but X-rays were negative.
Realmuto suffered only a bruise on his right index finger.
He got incredibly lucky.
“He’s super important to us,” Phillies left-hander Cristopher Sánchez said via the team’s interpreter. “He’s one of the best catchers in the game. We’re basically nothing without him. So he’s just a key player and a key piece for all of us.”
The same can be said for Sánchez, who will start Sunday’s regular-season finale, then Game 1 of the NL Division Series on Oct. 4; and fellow left-handers Ranger Suárez and Jesús Luzardo.
The Phillies need to keep each of them healthy, especially with Zack Wheeler’s season over and no clear choice to be the No. 4 starter, although Aaron Nola has the edge over fellow right-handers Walker Buehler and Taijuan Walker.
So watch the final four regular-season games this week to see if Turner can return to the lineup and win the Phillies’ first batting title since Richie Ashburn in 1958, if Kyle Schwarber can pass Ryan Howard for the franchise’s single-season home run record (he is three away), if the bullpen can get on a roll, etc.
But mostly, like Thomson, just hold your breath.