Trea Turner expected to be activated today Phillies return home

At the time of the Trea Turner hamstring injury, the Phillies had the best record in baseball.

Turner will return to the Phillies lineup tonight with Philadelphia having the best record in the National league and a eight game lead over the Atlanta Braves in the National League East. Phillies manager Rob Thomson told reporters on Sunday that Turner would be activated before Monday’s game against the Padres at Citizens Bank Park.

Turner left the Phillies May 3 game against the Giants due to soreness in his hamstring.  He was placed on the 10-day injured list with a left hamstring strain, and missed six weeks with the injury.

The team went 25-13 without Turner in the lineup.

"He has progressed very, very well," said MLB Network's Jon Morosi.

Turner was hitting .342 with two homers, 10 doubles, nine RBI, scoring 27 runs and stealing 10 bases in 33 games at the time of the injury, hitting in the No. 2 spot in the Phillies order.

Since Turner has left the lineup, the Phillies have used J.T. Realmuto and Nick Castellanos in that spot in the lineup. Realmuto has been out with a knee injury since June 11, with Castellanos moving into that spot.

With Turner back, Edmundo Sosa goes back to a super utility role.  He filled in to the tune of .277  with five homers, 24 runs scored, 19 RBI, and three steals as the fill-in for Turner at shortstop.

With Turner coming back, somebody has to go, and signs are pointing to Johan Rojas being the odd man out.

Rojas is hitting .235 with two homers, 19 RBI and 14 stolen bases in 58 games. However, with Brandon Marsh back from injury, David Dahl and Christian Pache out of minor league options, Rojas seems like the odd man out here.

The team could keep Rojas and send down the left-handed hitting Dahl, but they would likely lose him to another team, same with Pache.  The Phillies like both players, and sending them down would open them to be claimed by another team. Sending Rojas down would give him everyday at-bats in the minors.

With Turner back in the lineup, look for him to be back in the No. 2 spot with Castellanos moving back to the middle of the order. He will be a big boost to a team that has gone 10-10 over their past 20 games with injuries to Turner, Marsh and Realmuto impacting the lineup.