The Philadelphia Phillies starting rotation has dealt with its share of challenges recently as the team has been without Ranger Suárez and Taijuan Walker. The Phillies have been forced to rely on organizational depth in the back of the rotation in the absence of the pair, and the results have been a mixed bag, to say the least.
Sidelined since being placed on the IL on June 23 with a blister on his right index finger, Walker is reportedly on schedule to make his return to the mound on Tuesday when the Phillies take on the Miami Marlins. While his return to the rotation will bring the Phillies closer to full strength, Walker certainly left a lot to be desired with poor performance and low velocity before being placed on the IL for the better part of two months.
In 10 starts, Walker has a record of 3-3 with a 5.60 ERA, in addition to 43 strikeouts and 21 walks in 53 innings pitched this season. With his four-seam fastball only touching 91.3 mph on the radar gun this season, Walker has been hittable, with opponents feasting on his secondary stuff. Opposing hitters are batting .426 against his split-finger, .400 against his cutter and .310 against his sinker. There's clearly room for improvement.
When Walker was placed on the IL, the health of his finger and ability to regain his control of the splitter were two factors that were said to dictate when he would return to the Phillies rotation. With injuries stretching the Phillies pitching options thin, and a plan to go with a six-man rotation in August still on the table, Walker could provide some valuable innings for the team with rest and health being at the forefront of that decision.
Taijuan Walker is an important piece for the Phillies' stretch run
While Taijuan Walker has so far failed to live up to his four-year, $72 million contract, his ability to eat innings down the stretch could be just as valuable if he can pitch well enough to keep the Phillies in close ball games. While that's not the reason the Phillies signed the veteran right-hander, Walker could provide some value as an innings eater for the rest of the season.
His recent performances during two rehab starts have produced some encouraging signs, as Walker has looked good enough that the Phillies are willing to give him a start against the Marlins on Tuesday.
Taijuan Walker allowed one run in five innings tonight in a rehab start with Double-A Reading. He could rejoin the rotation next Tuesday against Miami.
— Todd Zolecki (@ToddZolecki) August 8, 2024
During his last start for Reading on Aug. 7, Walker went five innings, allowing one run on two hits while striking out three and not walking a batter over 60 pitches. In addition to his success on the mound, NBC Sports Philadelphia's Corey Seidman reports that Walker was regularly touching 93 mph with his fastball during his last start.
What will the Phillies rotation look like down the stretch?
The Phillies' top four of the rotation will include Zack Wheeler, Aaron Nola, Ranger Suárez and Cristopher Sánchez. How the Phillies will handle the fifth spot the rest of the season still remains unclear.
They could give the job back to Walker, but impressive rookie Tyler Phillips has pitched well enough (4-1, 4.83 ERA) that it leaves open the question: Who will take over the fifth spot in the rotation when August flips to September?
With Phillips currently making a solid argument for a rotation spot and Spencer Turnbull close to beginning a rehab stint, the Phillies have plenty of arms to consider if and when the team should decide on who will be the fifth starter. While Walker has not impressed over his first 10 starts, he could become valuable in the next couple of weeks as the Phillies try to be careful with Wheeler, Nola and Sánchez heading into the final weeks of the regular season.
While it would be disappointing to see Walker take a large step back and become a sixth starter/longman down the stretch, it wouldn't be the worst thing if he could ease the workload on Wheeler, Nola and Sánchez. And with the bullpen searching for arms to get opposing hitters out in close games, Walker could be the guy trusted to take over in spots where pitchers like Yunior Marte and Orion Kerkering have failed recently.
Walker could become a solid contributor under these circumstances, and if he can give the Phillies quality innings going forward, the rotation and bullpen will be one step closer to having a sense of balance for the first time since early June.