The Philadelphia Phillies are adjusting their pitching rotation after activating left-hander Ranger Suarez from the 15-day injured list. As part of this change, right-hander Taijuan Walker will transition to a bullpen role. Manager Rob Thomson indicated that while the current plan is to operate with a five-man rotation for at least the next few weeks, a six-man rotation could be considered in the future, especially given the off day on Monday.
Walker has been a solid contributor since the beginning of the season, with a commendable 2.54 ERA over six starts, logging a total of 28 1/3 innings. Despite his impressive ERA, his underlying metrics display room for improvement; he has a 17.6% strikeout rate, significantly below average, and a worrisome 10.4% walk rate. His FIP stands at 4.01 and his SIERA at 4.71, suggesting that he might be performing at the level of a number five starter rather than delivering mid-rotation production.
This year has been a marked improvement for Walker compared to 2024 when he struggled with a 7.10 ERA and a 6.94 FIP, leading some to believe he might not make the Opening Day roster. However, the injury to Suarez provided him the opportunity to secure his place in the rotation, and his early-season performance reinforced his value to the team.
While Walker is returning to the bullpen, he has demonstrated enough capability to keep his position with the club, and there is a possibility he could be called upon again should a need arise within the rotation. The Phillies are accustomed to a stable rotation, but injuries could shift the dynamics, as indicated by Aaron Nola’s recent neck issue, which prompted the earlier activation of Suarez.
Fortunately, Nola overcame the concern and had a strong outing, pitching six shutout innings with eight strikeouts in the Phillies’ 7-2 victory against the Diamondbacks. Despite the uncertainty that starting pitchers often face, Walker’s resilience and performance could lead to further opportunities as the season progresses.
Overall, the Phillies are hopeful that with a healthy rotation and players performing well, including Walker, they can maintain competitive momentum throughout the season.