The Philadelphia Phillies are looking to make a run to the World Series, and Trea Turner's sudden turnaround will help them do that.
Through 71 games, Turner had a .216/.268/.326 slash line. He led the National League with a .304 batting average last year, so his struggles warranted plenty of concern. The Phillies came into the season expecting to rely on him, but he was underperforming.
However, in his last 27 games, he has looked more like the player the Phillies are paying him to be. In that span, he has a .322/.363/.565 with seven home runs. He has doubled his home run total in that span, and all of a sudden, the Phillies' offense looks more complete.
The team still has needs to address at the trade deadline. They could use a reliable right-handed bat, preferably in the outfield. They could also use another starting pitcher to slot into the backend of their rotation. However, they no longer have to worry about whether Turner will be a black hole in their lineup come October.
Since joining the Phillies, Turner has a .777 OPS and 76 home runs. He has the third-largest contract among shortstops in the big leagues, and with that comes expectation. He was not living up to those expectations early, but has quickly reminded Phillies fans why he is a three-time All-Star.