MLB Phillies Stats: Turner’s Poor Start Adding to Philly’s Woes
Reigning NL Champs Wake Up in 4th Place, 7.5 Games Behind Atlanta
The Philadelphia Phillies are in a precarious position, 7.5 games back of the Atlanta Braves in the National League East. As a result, Philadelphia’s odds of winning the division have plummeted from +300 to +1200. There’s still plenty of time for Philadelphia to recover, as last year’s World Series run proved, but there’s no guarantee.
What’s contributed to the Phillies’ slow start? And what can they do to turn around their season? To help answer that, let’s take a closer look at the MLB Phillies stats.
Turner Struggling
The Phillies inked shortstop Trea Turner to a blockbuster 11-year, $300 million deal in free agency, inserting one of the most dynamic leadoff men in baseball to an already potent lineup. While the former batting champion and two-time NL stolen base leader was supposed to add another dimension to the roster, he’s struggled mightily to adjust to his new home.
Through 54 games, Turner is batting just .236 (62 points below his career average) with five home runs and 15 RBI. He also has seven stolen bases and a career-low .280 on-base percentage.
With Turner scuffling atop the order, Philadelphia has yet to go on a prolonged hot streak. The Phillies are sitting in fourth place in the NL East — 1.5 games in front of last-place Washington — and have a run differential of minus-43, second-worst in the division.
Catchup Up on Lost Time
Seven-time All-Star and two-time NL MVP Bryce Harper missed all of April recovering from Tommy John Surgery. Since returning to the lineup, Harper is hitting .315 with three homers and a healthy .893 OPS. Harper remains Philadelphia’s primary designated hitter, as doctors have yet to clear him to throw.
Harper’s return came sooner than expected for Philadelphia. His original timeline did not have him back until the July All-Star back. However, the 30-year-old Harper rejoined the team just 160 days following Tommy John, the fastest return on MLB record for a player with that surgery.
The Phillies rank just 23rd in runs (228) and 22nd in homers (56), but those numbers should rise once Harper gets more comfortable. Outfielder Kyle Schwarber leads Philadelphia with 13 homers, though he is batting just .163. Third baseman Alec Bohm, the team leader with 37 RBI, is currently nursing a hamstring injury and may be headed to the 10-day Injured List.
Pitching Problems
At the moment, Philadelphia’s greatest issue may be its pitching. Per MLB Phillies stats,the team ranks 23rd in baseball with a 4.59 ERA. The Phillies’ team WHIP (walks plus hits per innings pitched) of 1.33 also is below average, ranking 19th.
The Phillies’ top two starters, right-handers Aaron Nola and Zack Wheeler, have yet to get into a rhythm. Nola is 4-4 with a 4.70 ERA and has allowed 12 home runs (11th-most in MLB) in just 74.2 innings. Meanwhile, Wheeler is 4-4 with a 3.60 ERA. However, on an encouraging note, he is coming off his best start of the season. He threw eight shutout innings and struck out 12 in a 2-1 victory over Atlanta on May 27.
Craig Kimbrel has taken over the closer’s role and is a perfect 7-for-7 in save opportunities despite an unsightly 5.85 ERA.
Next on the Docket
The Phillies wrap up a 10-game road trip this weekend with a three-game set in Washington. Following that on the MLB schedule will be six games against the Tigers and Dodgers in Philadelphia. The Phillies have fared far better at home this season, going 14-10 at Citizens Bank Park compared to just 11-20 on the road.
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