The Philadelphia Phillies shortstop began Game 4 of the NLDS 4-for-4, including a home run in the fifth inning that gave Philadelphia a 2-1 lead.
Turner hit a double in his first at-bat and followed that with a single in the third inning, putting him a triple shy of hitting for the cycle. He then hit an infield single in the seventh.
Entering Game 4, Braves starting pitcher Spencer Strider had a massive edge over Turner. The NL leader in wins and strikeouts had never allowed a hit to Turner in 17 at-bats.
Turner is in his first season in Philadelphia after spending his first nine seasons with the Nationals (2015-21) and Dodgers (2021-22). He started hot through the season’s first three weeks but declined afterward. From April 22 to Aug. 3, Turner had a .217 batting average with 77 hits and 93 strikeouts. He’s turned it back around in the two months since, posting a .337 batting average with 16 home runs and an on-base plus slugging (OPS) of 1.057 through Sept. 30.
He started the postseason 8-for-20 (.400) going to Game 4 and hit his first home run of the 2023 playoffs in Game 3. Turner’s firing on all cylinders, and with teammate Bryce Harper also playing at an elite level, that’s a lethal one-two punch.
It’s so lethal that it has the Braves on the ropes, trailing 3-1 in the seventh inning, and the Phillies staring at a second consecutive trip to the NLCS.