The Philadelphia Phillies started the 2025 season down a starting pitcher when Ranger Suárez was placed on the 15-day IL with lower back stiffness. After making his first rehab appearance on Thursday for Single-A Clearwater, the 2024 NL All-Star could be back on the mound with the big club sometime in the next two weeks, barring any setbacks.
But with Taijuan Walker pitching surprisingly well in his absence, the Phillies have the opportunity to let Suárez build back his arm strength without being pressured to accelerate his rehab timetable.
When Suárez was first placed on the IL ahead of Opening Day, the news that Walker would take his spot in the rotation to begin the season was met with amazement and consternation from a Phillies fan base that was convinced the team would never entertain the idea, especially with Walker's historically bad performance on the mound last season lingering in fans' collective memories.
Taijuan Walker just did something amazing for the Phillies almost two years in the making
That being said, Walker has looked like a totally different pitcher during his first two starts of the season. After his no decision in Wednesday's 4-3 victory over the scuffling Atlanta Braves, Walker accomplished something he hasn't done since the 2023 season.
After notching his first win of the season and hurling six scoreless innings against the Colorado Rockies on April 9, Walker got another chance to show off his improved pitch mix with a start against the Braves on Wednesday. With key lineup cogs such as Ronald Acuña Jr. (IL) and Jurikson Profar (Suspension) absent from the Braves' lineup, Walker was able to keep the Braves scoreless throughout his 4 2/3 innings of work.
He struck out five, scattering five hits before being lifted in favor of José Ruiz, who secured the final out and gave Walker his second consecutive scoreless performance.
Taijuan Walker's line tonight: 4.2 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 5 K.
— Todd Zolecki (@ToddZolecki) April 10, 2025
Walker has not allowed a run in 10 2/3 innings this season.
This is the first time since the 2023 season that Walker has spun two consecutive scoreless starts, last accomplishing the feat in a two-game stretch on June 6 and 11. While it certainly remains to be seen if Walker's success is sustainable or not, his velocity topped out a 93.7 mph during the start, and his sinker, splitter and cutter looked sharp for much of the night. That was especially evident when he dotted an 87.7 mph cutter down and away on the outside corner to ring up Braves designated hitter Marcell Ozuna for an inning-ending strikeout in the first.
With Suárez on the mend on his minor league rehab assignment, Walker could be in line for two more starts before a bigger decision is made regarding his role the rest of the season. While Walker's two scoreless starts weren't exactly the dictionary definition of the word dominance, the Phillies certainly don't mind that he's building back trade value after looking like a candidate to be released after spring training.
With two-years and close to $36 million remaining on the contract he signed in 2023, trading Walker remains a tough sell. But, if he can repeat what he's done during his first two scoreless starts a few more times, it's possible the Phillies could find a team willing to trade for him in the near future.