Apr 25, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Philadelphia Phillies shortstop Trea Turner (7) celebrates with teammates after scoring a run against the Atlanta Braves in the tenth inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images Brett Davis
MIAMI — Trea Turner isn't in the lineup Friday evening as the Phillies open up a four-game set against the Marlins at loanDepot Park, but there's no cause for concern.
Phillies interim manager Don Mattingly said "it's just a day" for Turner, citing the fact that he played in both doubleheader games Thursday and that four games in a row on turf can be tough on your body.
"We're a roster that is getting a little older," Mattingly acknowledged. "I'm not saying the guys are old, but I think a day off here and there is not gonna hurt anybody, and it keeps our bench playing. So it keeps everybody involved."
Mattingly was non-committal on whether or not Turner would be available off the bench, saying "they tell me who they wouldn't use, I'll tell them who I would use."
On one hand, it seems like an inopportune time to take Turner out of the lineup, because he had six hits in 14 at-bats during this week's sweep of the San Francisco Giants at Citizens Bank Park. It was a welcome sign, as a solid series against the Giants helped Turner to get his OPS over .700 after a slow start. Typically, when a guy starts to heat up, your best course of action is to ride that out.
On the other hand, not only is Turner — who will turn 33 next month — one of the guys getting older on the team, but he's also dealt with hamstring injuries in each of the last two seasons. After missing six weeks with a left hamstring strain in 2024, Turner missed much of the final month of the season last year with a right hamstring strain. He sustained that strain at loanDepot Park on Sept. 7.
Turner said during Spring Training that his No. 1 goal for the 2026 season was to keep his hamstrings healthy. As much as "load management" is scoffed at, preserving the health of Turner — whose game is based on speed — could require an occasional off day moving forward.
Zack Wheeler will start for the Phillies Friday, his second outing of the season.
Andrew Painter — who had initially been scheduled to start Thursday before the Phillies chose to do a bullpen game in the second end of their doubleheader — will now start Saturday.
Former Marlin Jesús Luzardo will go Sunday, with Aaron Nola now going on Monday in the final game of a wraparound series. This allows the Phillies to split up the two lefties in their starting rotation, with Cristopher Sánchez in line to pitch the opening game of the homestand Tuesday against the Athletics.
