Phillies Urged to Make Tough Decision on Trea Turner Amid Struggles

The Philadelphia Phillies are currently fighting for playoff positioning with just a few weeks left to go in the regular season.

The Phillies find themselves five games behind the Atlanta Braves for first place in the National League East division. However, the two teams will be playing each other six times over the next nine games.

Philadelphia has been able to turn its season around under manager Don Mattingly, following a slow start. Part of this has been due to its star players stepping up throughout the year, providing a spark.

But one of the main guys on the roster has seen problems all year long, and it's hurt the Phillies. That would be infielder Trea Turner, who is having one of the worst seasons of his MLB career.

So far, Turner has hit .239 with 17 home runs and 52 RBIs, while posting an OPS of .669. Statistically, this is the worst year for Turner since his rookie season back in 2015.

The team has kept Turner hitting at the top of the lineup, but there is an argument to be made for him to drop. His struggles this season have gotten magnified over time, and it's impacted Philadelphia greatly.

While speaking with MLB insider Buster Olney, ESPN analyst Paul Hembekides called for the Phillies to make a change when it comes to Turner. 

"Don Mattingly needs to go look at Trea Turner, who is hitting in the two-hole, and make a long, hard decision as to whether he still belongs there, because right now there is just not a redeeming quality. I would be more concerned with stacking the top of the order with my best guys and not worrying about the platoon stuff, for lack of a better term. He is not hitting lefties; he is not hitting righties; he is not hitting lately. I view him as something of a sunk cost this year. I'm sticking him in the sixth or seventh hole for the last month of the season; see if he gets right before the postseason," Hembekides said.

Turner is a veteran, and he's been a catalyst for the Phillies over the last few years. But his issues have hurt this group this season, and Mattingly should consider dropping him in the lineup.

The infielder has become a detriment to the Phillies' top of the order, and it's caused them to not be as effective as possible. But Mattingly is an old-school manager, who tries to stick with his guys, even through the hard times.

Maybe this could turn out for the best, and with the playoffs coming, Turner will have a chance to redeem himself. But if things don't change soon, Philadelphia may have to make some tough decisions, including Mattingly choosing to improve the lineup by moving Turner's spot.