Rob Thomson plans to be cautious with Trea Turner and J.T. Realmuto in return to lineup
Turner was scratched from Saturday’s lineup with a lower back spasm, while Realmuto was lifted from the game after fouling a ball off of his left foot. Both will be reevaluated on Sunday.
WASHINGTON — An hour before first pitch in Saturday’s 11-6 win over the Nationals, Trea Turner was scratched from the Phillies lineup with a low back spasm.
He felt his back lock up at the end of opening day on Thursday, and then again while fielding ground balls pregame Saturday. The Phillies decided to hold him out. Edmundo Sosa started at shortstop in his place, going 2-for-4 with a walk.
“I’ve never had anything like this, so I think day-to-day. I feel better now than I did a few hours ago. I’ve basically been in treatment all day,” Turner said on Saturday night.
He said he has been dealing with a “locked up” right hip since the last three or four days of spring training, which he thinks contributed to the back issue.
“It felt good playing, it was more so like sitting down or sleeping, stuff like that,” Turner said. “It felt a little weird, I guess. But when I would play I would feel fine. I think that kind of turned into this, a little bit.”
With right-hander Jake Irvin starting on the mound for the Nationals, Turner was initially penciled into the No. 2 spot since Kyle Schwarber was leading off. With Turner out, Alec Bohm moved up from fourth to second in the order, while J.T. Realmuto slotted into the cleanup spot.
Realmuto was lifted from the game in the seventh inning as a precautionary measure after fouling a ball off of his left foot. Phillies manager Rob Thomson said that X-rays were negative.
Thomson said the Phillies will reevaluate Turner and Realmuto on Sunday, but expects to be cautious.
“I’m not going to put them in any type of danger at this point,” Thomson said.
Turner finished 0-for-4 with a strikeout and a walk in his only game action on Thursday, but had quality at-bats despite late-afternoon shadows at Nationals Park affecting the visuals. In 2024, Turner saw 3.78 pitches per plate appearance. On Thursday, he averaged 5.60.
“He saw lots [of pitches],” Thomson said. “I thought it was pretty good, considering nobody could see. I didn’t think he got out of the zone all that much.”
Realmuto is 1-for-9 with a triple in the first two games of the season.
» READ MORE: ‘Phillies Extra’ Q&A: Bryson Stott on his walk-up song, watching Ohio State games with Bryce Harper, and more
Other injury updates
Ranger Suárez threw a 26-pitch bullpen session Saturday in Clearwater, Fla., continuing his rehab from lower back stiffness.
“The report was really good, velocity was good,” Thomson said. “So that’s a good sign.”
The Phillies will reassess Suárez on Sunday, and if he comes out of it well, the next step is an up-down bullpen session. Thomson said Suárez isn’t ready to face live hitters yet and will likely need a rehab assignment before rejoining the team.
Utility player Weston Wilson had a full workout on Saturday and took batting practice on the field in Clearwater for the first time since suffering a moderate oblique strain the day before spring training games began. He remains on track for a mid-April rehab assignment.
“I think he’s doing pretty well,” Thomson said.
Extra bases
Aaron Nola is scheduled to start Sunday’s 1:35 p.m. series finale against Nationals lefty Mitchell Parker.