Taijuan Walker Blanks Rockies For Six Innings To Earn First Win
Philadelphia Phillies right-hander Taijuan Walker had a throwback outing in his first start of the year on Thursday against the visiting Colorado Rockies at Citizens Bank Park in the team's 3-1 victory. Walker kept the Rockies scoreless through six innings while giving up three hits, walking one and striking out four for his first win of the 2025 season. Fantasy managers in deep leagues will want to take this outing with a grain of salt since it came against Colorado, but it was a good first outing for the 32-year-old veteran as he fills in for lefty Ranger Suarez (back) in Philly's starting rotation to begin the season. Things probably won't come as easy in his second start next week against the division-rival Atlanta Braves, though, and Walker will head back to the bullpen when Suarez is ready to return from the injured list.
Philadelphia Phillies veteran right-hander Taijuan Walker will open the year as the team's No. 5 starter with left-hander Ranger Suarez (back) opening the season on the injured list. Barring a setback as he ramps back up, Suarez could be ready to return in late April, which means that Walker should see at least a handful of starts. The 32-year-old won't be of much interest to fantasy managers in single-year leagues outside of those in deep NL-only leagues. The former first-rounder really struggled in his second year with the Phillies in 2024, going 3-7 with a career-worst 7.10 ERA (6.94 FIP), 1.72 WHIP, 58 strikeouts and 37 walks in 83 2/3 innings over 19 appearances (15 starts). It didn't help that he missed time with shoulder and finger injuries. If Walker continues to struggle like that again in 2025, he could be a candidate to be released.
Taijuan Walker Must Pitch Well To Secure Bullpen Spot
MLB.com's Todd Zolecki writes that Philadelphia Phillies right-hander Taijuan Walker will enter spring training with the final bullpen spot because he is owed $36 million over the next two years. However, Walker is going to need to perform in Grapefruit League action to keep the spot. Pitchers Max Lazar, Tyler Phillips, Nick Vespi and Joel Kuhnel could leapfrog Walker for the Phillies' final bullpen spot going into Opening Day if Walker struggles. The 32-year-old Walker was initially going to be in the team's starting rotation to enter 2025, but that all changed when the Phillies acquired lefty Jesus Luzardo from the Miami Marlins this offseason. The former first-rounder in 2010 by the Seattle Mariners has aged poorly the last two years in Philadelphia, posting a 5.27 ERA (5.32 FIP) and 1.44 WHIP with 196 strikeouts and 108 walks in 256 1/3 innings over 50 outings (46 starts).
Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Taijuan Walker had a miserable outing against the New York Mets on Thursday, surrendering eight runs in just 3 IP. Walker gave up six hits, including four homers, and also walked three. The 32-year-old veteran just doesn't have it this year, pitching to an abysmal 6.91 ERA and 1.67 WHIP while being relegated to the bullpen at times. He shouldn't have a spot in the Phillies rotation come playoffs and will be hard-pressed to start for them next year unless he can find some of what he's lost.
The Philadelphia Phillies will be moving right-hander Taijuan Walker to the bullpen, according to manager Rob Thomson. The Phillies will call someone up from the minors to make the start next Tuesday against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre, and there's a good chance it will be Tyler Phillips. The Phillies have seen enough after Walker allowed six earned runs on 13 hits with one walk and no strikeouts in six innings in a blowout loss to the Houston Astros on Wednesday. The 32-year-old veteran is now 3-6 with a rough 6.50 ERA (6.30 FIP), a 1.64 WHIP, 53 strikeouts and 29 walks in 70 2/3 innings over his 14 starts in 2024. Walker's 16.8% walk rate is the lowest of his career and it's the third year it's been in decline. Phillips made his MLB debut earlier this year and hasn't been much better with a 5.50 ERA and 1.22 WHIP with a 6.8 K/9 in 36 innings over seven outings (six starts).
Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Taijuan Walker (finger) will return from the injured list to start Tuesday's game at Citizens Bank Park against the division-rival Miami Marlins. Walker allowed one run on two hits while striking out three hitters in five innings on Wednesday in a minor-league rehab start with Double-A Reading, and he'll next rejoin Philadelphia's rotation to start in Tuesday's contest against Miami. He's been recuperating from inflammation in his right index finger on the injured list since June 23. Although the 31-year-old veteran right-hander holds a poor 5.60 ERA and 1.49 WHIP with a 43:21 K:BB over 53 innings (10 starts) for the Phillies this season, he'll certainly have a bit of low-end streaming value in his first start back at home against the last-place Marlins.
Taijuan Walker Logs 41 Pitches In Rehab Outing On Wednesday
Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Taijuan Walker (finger) made his first rehab outing on Wednesday evening with Double-A Reading. He tossed 41 pitches across two innings. He struck out three but had some trouble allowing four hits and three runs (two earned). Walker has been sidelined since late June with a blister on his right index finger. The 31-year-old might need one more rehab appearance to increase his pitch count before returning to the big leagues. Prior to the injury, Walker has had a disappointing season carrying a 5.60 ERA, 1.49 WHIP, and a 21:43 BB:K ratio. If Walker misses another turn in the rotation, left-handed pitcher Kolby Allard is likely to earn another start.
Philadelphia Phillies right-hander Taijuan Walker (finger) is progressing and will make a minor-league rehab start with Double-A Reading on Wednesday. For now, Kolby Allard will stay in the team's starting rotation and start against the Mariners in Seattle this week, but Walker will eventually take his spot when he's deemed healthy enough to return from the 15-day injured list. The 31-year-old Walker is working his way back from a blister and inflammation in his right index finger that has kept him out since late June. It's unclear if Walker will need more than one rehab start in the minors, but either way, he should be back with the Phillies in early August, barring a setback. Walker was pretty inconsistent in his 10 starts (53 innings) before going on the shelf, going 3-3 for the Phils with a 5.60 ERA and 1.49 WHIP with only 43 punchouts.
Taijuan Walker Won't Be Back Before All-Star Break
Philadelphia Phillies right-hander Taijuan Walker (finger) doesn't have a timetable for a return right now, but it "won't be before the All-Star break," according to manager Rob Thomson. With right-hander Spencer Turnbull (lat) now out six to eight weeks with a lat strain, the next man up is pitching prospect Michael Mercado, who should get a handful of starts, and maybe more, depending on Walker's status to begin the second half of the season after the mid-July All-Star break. Walker was put on the 15-day injured list with right index-finger inflammation. Fantasy managers in deeper leagues may want to grab Mercado now. He's the team's No. 30 prospect, per MLB Pipeline, and was pitching extremely well at Triple-A Lehigh Valley before his first big-league call-up earlier this week.
The Philadelphia Phillies placed right-hander Taijuan Walker (finger) on the 15-day injured list (retroactive to June 22) with right index finger inflammation on Sunday and recalled right-hander Michael Mercado from Triple-A Lehigh Valley in a corresponding move. Walker is officially dealing with a blister on his right index finger and will take at least the next two weeks to try and heal up. The 31-year-old veteran didn't look comfortable in Friday night's loss against the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks, when he allowed four runs on five hits across just four innings of work. Walker currently sits with a 3-3 record, 5.60 ERA, 1.49 WHIP, 43 strikeouts and 21 walks in 53 innings over his 10 starts in 2024. He has a greater chance for wins pitching for the Phillies, but his 18.7% strikeout rate, his lowest mark since 2018, is concerning.
Taijuan Walker
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