Spencer Turnbull remains elite in final rotation start, bullpen blows it in 7-4 loss to the Reds

Spencer Turnbull signed a one-year, $2 million contract with the Philadelphia Phillies in February to provide some rotation depth while primarily operating out of the bullpen. Because Taijuan Walker missed the start of the 2024 season, he was elevated into the starting rotation. 

Over five starts, Turnbull has a 1.33 ERA, tied for the fourth-lowest in all of Major League Baseball. 

Last night, he pitched five innings against the Reds and allowed three hits, three walks and one earned run while striking out eight. He handed over a 3-1 lead to the bullpen and the Phillies ultimately lost the game 7-4. 

Spencer Turnbull, 8th K pic.twitter.com/XkaQguHZqc

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) April 25, 2024

Seranthony Dominguez struggled, lasting just 0.2 innings while allowing two hits. He was responsible for the four earned runs that crossed the plate in the sixth to give the Reds the lead. Gregory Soto and Jose Alvarado also allowed an earned run a piece in the loss. 

Now, the Phillies will have to figure out what to do with Turnbull given the fact that Taijuan Walker is slated to return to the rotation on Sunday against the San Diego Padres. 

Walker started the season on the 15-Day IL after a miserable Spring in Clearwater where in one start he coughed up five hits, seven runs, three walks, and three home runs in just 2.3 innings of work against the Baltimore Orioles. 

His fastball didn’t move from the 89-92mph range all Spring and back on March 9th, it was as low as 88-90mph. 

Here’s the concern, Walker is on this 4-year contract with nearly $52 million left to be paid and after starting last year very strong, he was pretty miserable down the stretch.

On the year, Walker posted a 15-6 record with a 4.38 ERA over 31 starts but the majority of his success was found before the All-Star Break. 

Taijuan Walker 2023 Splits

• Before All-Star Break: 10-3, 4.02 ERA
• Post All-Star Break: 5-3, 4.83 ERA

I never really bought in to the drama surrounding Walker not pitching in the postseason. He was brought here to pitch in the back half of the rotation and outside of the NLCS, there was never a shot he would make it into a ball game. 

Pair that with the fact that he had a season-long record of being absolutely terrible in the first inning of games when he started (7.04 ERA) and it’s no surprise that Topper decided to leave him on the bench in October. 

The Phillies starting rotation has been one of the best in Major League Baseball. That rotation includes Spencer Turnbull, NOT Taijuan Walker. 

Topper and the organization will now almost certainly send Turnbull to the bullpen and give Walker his spot back in the rotation. 

Is that the right move? I don’t think so. It feels like it’s more of a “Hey, we pay this guy a lot of money so we have to let him start games” move. 

Spencer Turnbull is THE No. 5 in the Phillies Rotation

I don’t like any of this. Turnbull earned his spot in the rotation and I don’t see any reason to screw things up by adding Walker. If anything, keep Walker as a spot-rotation guy to give Nola, Wheeler, and Suarez extra rest and let Turnbull remain at No. 5 until proven otherwise.

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