Walker will re-enter the Phillies rotation next week in Colorado in place of the injured Aaron Nola (ankle), Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.
The Phillies haven't revealed the exact day Walker will slot in, but he will receive at least a couple starts while Nola is sidelined. Walker pitched well in the rotation earlier this season, collecting a 2.54 ERA and 22:13 K:BB over 28.1 innings covering six starts. He has since made two long-relief appearances, allowing a total of three runs (two earned) over six innings.
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Phillies' Taijuan Walker: Closes out blowout victory
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Walker picked up the save in Wednesday's 7-0 win over the Rays after allowing one hit and no walks in three scoreless innings. He struck out seven.
It was the first career save for the veteran right-hander, who shut down the Rays on Wednesday with a season-high seven strikeouts. It also marked Walker's first appearance since shifting back to the bullpen following the recent return of Ranger Suarez. Walker will likely continue to fill a bulk-relief role while Philadelphia's rotation is healthy, and he's bouncing back from a dreadful 2024 campaign with a 2.30 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 29:13 K:BB over 31.1 innings so far this year.
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Phillies' Taijuan Walker: Moving to bullpen
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Manager Rob Thompson said Saturday that Walker will move from the rotation to the bullpen, Lochlahn March of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
Ranger Suarez (back) returned from the 15-day injured list Saturday and will be reclaiming his spot in the Phillies' rotation from Walker. Thompson did leave the door open for Walker to make spot starts this season as part of a six-man rotation, but the 32-year-old right-hander will shift to the bullpen and likely serve in a bulk-relief role. In six starts this season, Walker has gone 1-3 with a 2.54 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 22:13 K:BB across 28.1 innings.
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Phillies' Taijuan Walker: Gives up one earned run in loss
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Walker (1-3) took the loss against the Nationals on Thursday, allowing four runs (one earned) on four hits and three walks while striking out two over 5.2 innings.
After giving up two baserunners in the first inning, Walker proceeded to retire 13 of the next 14 batters he faced, but things fell apart for him and the Phillies in the sixth. Walker gave up four runs in the frame, but only one was earned due to an error by Bryce Harper. Walker has taken the loss in three of his last four starts, but he has yielded two runs or less in five of six outings this season and has a 2.54 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 22:13 K:BB across 28.1 innings. It may have been Walker's final turn through the rotation for now, given that Ranger Suarez (back) is slated to be reinstated from the 15-day injured list Sunday.
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Phillies' Taijuan Walker: Falls to Cubs
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Walker (1-2) took the loss against the Cubs on Friday, allowing two runs on six hits and two walks over three innings. He struck out four.
Walker at least managed to limit the Cubs to two runs despite dealing with traffic throughout the start. Still, the right-hander was only able to make it through three innings on 86 pitches after he was removed from his previous start with shoulder stiffness. Walker still holds a respectable 2.78 ERA with a 1.37 WHIP and 20:10 K:BB through five starts (22.2 innings) this year. He's currently lined up to face the Nationals at home in his next outing.
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Phillies' Taijuan Walker: Cleared to start Friday
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Walker (shoulder) is listed as the Phillies' scheduled starter for Friday's game against the Cubs in Chicago.
Walker developed some right shoulder stiffness Saturday against the Marlins, but the 32-year-old checked out fine following his between-starts bullpen session and will be ready to toe the rubber on five days' rest. Though he was expected to begin the season in the bullpen, Walker ended up winning a spot in the Opening Day rotation after Ranger Suarez (back) landed on the injured list. Walker has fared well through four starts, turning in a 2.29 ERA and 1.17 WHIP over 19.2 innings.
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Phillies' Taijuan Walker: Lifted with shoulder stiffness
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Walker came away with a no-decision in Saturday's 11-10 win over the Marlins, allowing one run on one hit and three walks over four innings. He struck out two.
The Phillies gave the veteran right-hander more than enough run support, building a 7-1 lead by the end of the fourth inning, but Walker still got the hook after just 56 pitches (30 strikes) before he could qualify for the win. Per Bailey Digh of Phillies Nation, manager Rob Thomson indicated after the game that Walker's shoulder had stiffened up a bit between innings, prompting his removal as a precaution. Assuming he's good to go for his next turn in the rotation, Walker will take a 2.29 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 16:8 K:BB through 19.2 innings into a road clash with the Cubs next weekend.
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Phillies' Taijuan Walker: Coughs up six runs in loss
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Walker (1-1) took the loss Monday against San Francisco, allowing six runs (four earned) on six hits and one walk over five innings. He struck out five.
The Philadelphia right-hander finally gave up an earned run, as the Giants plated all six runs in a chaotic second inning that was fueled by four hits, a walk and an error. Despite the less-than-stellar outing, Walker still managed to generate a solid 10 whiffs out of his 99 total pitches. His ERA now stands at 2.30 after 15.2 innings, but his rotation spot is precarious as Ranger Suarez (back) is making rehab starts and likely to return soon. Walker should get at least one more turn in the rotation, which currently lines up to be against Miami at home this weekend.
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Phillies' Taijuan Walker: Unscored upon again Wednesday
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Walker tossed 4.2 scoreless innings against Atlanta on Wednesday, allowing five hits and three walks while striking out five batters in a no-decision.
Walker followed his six-inning scoreless outing in his first start of the campaign with another no-run effort Wednesday. This time around, though, he wasn't as sharp, as he needed 94 pitches (only 53 of which were strikes) to get through 4.2 frames. Walker departed with two outs in the fifth after loading the bases on a single and two walks, but reliever Jose Ruiz was able to continue the shutout bid by getting Austin Riley to pop out. Walker has hurled 10.2 frames without yielding a run across his first two starts, and he'll look to extend the scoreless-inning streak his next time out, which lines up to be a home matchup against the Giants early next week.
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Phillies' Taijuan Walker: Shines in season debut
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Walker (1-0) earned the win Thursday against the Rockies, allowing three hits and a walk over six shutout innings. He struck out four.
It was an excellent start to the year for Walker, who needed just 74 pitches to finish six innings. The veteran right-hander struggled to a 7.10 ERA in 83.2 innings last season, though he won the final spot in Philadelphia's opening-day rotation after Ranger Suarez (back) landed on the injured list. Walker certainly earned another turn after Thursday's outing -- he's currently lined up for a road matchup in Atlanta next week.
Manager Rob Thomson said Sunday that Walker will be included in Philadelphia's season-opening rotation, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.
The veteran right-hander entered camp with the expectation of working as a reliever, but instead he's needed in the rotation with Ranger Suarez (back) headed to the injured list. Walker had a 6.92 ERA and 6:3 K:BB through 13 innings during spring training, and he fared even worse in 19 appearances during the 2024 regular season with a 7.10 ERA, 1.72 WHIP and 58:37 K:BB over 83.2 innings.
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Phillies' Taijuan Walker: Could be next man up in rotation
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Walker took the loss in Wednesday's Grapefruit League game against the Yankees after giving up six runs (three home runs) on nine hits and two walks with just one strikeout in 3.2 innings, but Corey Seidman of NBC Sports Philadelphia believes the right-hander could play a meaningful role to open the season.
With Ranger Suarez dealing with mild back stiffness, it's become uncertain whether he'll be ready for the start of the regular season. If Suarez is unable to make his first turn in the rotation or needs to begin the campaign on the injured list, Walker is the next man up on the depth chart to fill his spot. The right-hander is in line to get one more start this spring, and regardless of role, he's all but guaranteed to make the Opening Day roster despite carrying 6.92 ERA and 1.69 WHIP with six punchouts over 13 frames in exhibition play. Walker's name has been previously mentioned in trade rumors, but a deal seems unlikely at this point given Suarez's injury and the remaining two years and $36 million left on Walker's contract.
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Phillies' Taijuan Walker: Solid spring continues Friday
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Walker appears likely to make the Opening Day roster due to Matt Strahm's shoulder injury, but Walker could be a trade candidate this season, Scott Lauber of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
After giving up just two runs on four hits and one walk over four innings in Friday's Grapefruit League game against the Yankees, Walker now sports a 3.38 ERA and 1.18 WHIP with five strikeouts across 9.1 frames to further solidify his case to be part of the Opening Day roster. Lauber notes Walker isn't a great fit for the bullpen because he's functioned as a starter for the majority of his career, but the veteran right-hander might draw trade interest if he continues to perform well. Lauber also notes the Phillies could hold onto Walker for long relief as insurance in case one of their starters gets injured, so the team does have some options while their rotation is healthy.
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Phillies' Taijuan Walker: Fighting for bullpen spot
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Walker is in a battle for the Phillies' final bullpen job this spring, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.
Walker opened the offseason knowing that he was at best keeping a seat warm for Andrew Painter, who's expected to eventually earn a rotation spot once he's fully built back up from Tommy John surgery. Then the Phillies acquired Jesus Luzardo in a trade with the Marlins, bumping Walker to the bullpen. While the two years and $36 million remaining on Walker's contract make a compelling case for the Phillies to find some use for him, his 5.27 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and 17.6 percent strikeout rate over the first two years of his deal give the team plenty of reason to cut bait.
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