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by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Phillies' Taijuan Walker: Won't make normal start
Taijuan Walker won't make his scheduled start Tuesday against the Cubs but could pitch in relief, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.Walker was knocked around in his last start Thursday against the Mets (eight runs on six hits and three walks), and he'll likely have a difficult time making Philadelphia's postseason roster unless things change in his final appearance or two of the regular season. Tanner Banks will be called on to serve as the opener, and Gelb notes that Walker and Kolby Allard are candidates to pitch in long relief. Walker's spot in the rotation won't come up again with only four games remaining after Tuesday.
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by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Phillies' Taijuan Walker: Allows four homers in loss
Taijuan Walker (3-7) took the loss against the Mets on Thursday, allowing eight runs on six hits and three walks over 3.1 innings while striking out two. He also hit a batter with a pitch.Walker had a hard time with the Mets' lineup right out of the gate, surrendering back-to-back home runs to Mark Vientos and Pete Alonso with two outs in the opening frame. The right-hander would again be victimized by the long ball in the third and fourth innings before being relieved by Jose Ruiz. The eight runs allowed marked a season high for Walker, as did the four home runs he coughed up. He's now allowed 13 runs over his last two starts (with his previous start coming back on Aug. 28).
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by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Phillies' Taijuan Walker: Set to start Thursday
Taijuan Walker will draw the start for the Philadelphia Phillies' series opener against the Mets on Thursday, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.Walker was relegated to the bullpen following his last start against the Astros on Aug. 28, when he allowed six runs on 13 hits and one walk over six innings. He allowed five runs (four earned) across his first two relief outings, but after Walker tossed three scoreless innings against the Mets on Saturday, manager Rob Thompson has decided to give the 32-year-old right-hander another look as the club's No. 5 starter. Overall, Walker holds a 6.29 ERA, 1.63 WHIP and 55:31 K:BB across 78.2 innings this season.
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by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Phillies' Taijuan Walker: Relegated to bullpen
Manager Rob Thomson said Thursday that Taijuan Walker will work out of the bullpen going forward, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.After surrendering six earned runs on 13 hits and a walk without recording a strikeout in six innings against the Astros on Wednesday, Walker has now officially lost his place in the Philadelphia Phillies' rotation. He'll serve as a long reliever as he joins Philly's bullpen, and the team will need to recall someone -- likely Tyler Phillips -- from Triple-A to fill the open rotation spot, which is due to pitch in Toronto on Tuesday.
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by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Phillies' Taijuan Walker: Rotation spot in jeopardy
Philadelphia Phillies manager Rob Thomson was noncommittal about Taijuan Walker's spot in the rotation following the right-hander's loss to the Astros on Wednesday, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.Walker surrendered six runs on 13 hits and one walk while failing to record a strikeout against Houston. The Phillies are winless over his last nine starts, and Walker holds a 7.36 ERA over that span. His next turn comes up Tuesday in Toronto, but it seems likely the Phillies will go with someone else in that spot. Tyler Phillips looks like the leading candidate, with Kolby Allard also an option once he's eligible to be recalled Sept. 10. Walker is in the second year of a four-year, $72 million contract.
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by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Phillies' Taijuan Walker: Tagged for 13 hits, six runs
Taijuan Walker (3-6) took the loss Wednesday against the Astros, allowing six earned runs on 13 hits and one walk in six innings. He did not record a strikeout.Walker got off to a nightmarish start in this one, allowing Jose Altuve to steal home plate in the opening frame, the first of 10 runs scored by the Astros. Walker then held off the Astros until the fourth inning, when he allowed five more runs to cross on four extra-base hits, including a two-run home run by Yordan Alvarez. Walker's 13 hits allowed match Patrick Corbin and Carson Spiers for the most allowed by a pitcher this season. The 32-year-old Walker has been an unmitigated disaster since returning from a finger injury Aug. 13, posting a 9.17 ERA, 2.09 WHIP and 10:8 K:BB in 17.2 laborious innings (four starts).
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by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Phillies' Taijuan Walker: Early exit in Friday's loss
Taijuan Walker (3-5) took the loss Friday as the Philadelphia Phillies fell 7-4 to the Royals, coughing up six runs on eight hits and a walk over three innings. He struck out two.Two-run homers by Salvador Perez and Hunter Renfroe in the third inning accounted for most of the damage off Walker, who failed to complete five innings for the third straight start since coming off the IL. The veteran righty has served up five long balls in 11.2 innings during his swoon, and on the season he's been taken deep 17 times in only 64.2 frames, leading to a bloated 6.26 ERA and 1.58 WHIP. The Phillies' lead in the NL East has slipped to five games over Atlanta, but for now Walker will be given a chance to work through his issues. He lines up to make his next start at home next week against the Astros.
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by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Phillies' Taijuan Walker: Labors through 4.2 innings
Taijuan Walker did not factor into the decision in Sunday's loss to the Nationals, allowing three earned runs on four hits and three walks in 4.2 innings. He struck out three.Walker started strong, throwing three scoreless innings before allowing a two-run blast to Keibert Ruiz in the fourth inning. Walker surrendered another home run in the fifth -- a solo shot to Alex Call. Walker has been mediocre in two starts since returning from a finger injury, pitching to a 6.23 ERA, 1.62 WHIP and an ugly 8:6 K:BB in 8.2 innings. The 32-year-old will look to rebound in his next start, currently scheduled for next weekend in Kansas City.
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by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Phillies' Taijuan Walker: Falls to Miami in return
Taijuan Walker (3-4) took the loss Tuesday against the Marlins, allowing three runs on four hits and three walks over four innings. He struck out five.Making his first start since June 21, Walker ran into trouble early, allowing a pair of runs in the first inning before giving up a solo homer to Jake Burger in the third. It's been a tough year thus far for the 32-year-old Walker -- he doesn't have a win since May 11 while pitching to a 5.68 ERA with a 1.51 WHIP and 48:24 K:BB across 11 starts (57 innings). He'll look to get on track in his next outing, currently scheduled for this weekend at home versus the Nationals.
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by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Phillies' Taijuan Walker: Reinstated for Tuesday's start
The Philadelphia Phillies activated Taijuan Walker (finger) from the 15-day injured list to start Tuesday's game versus the Marlins.The right-hander has been sidelined since late June due to inflammation in his right index finger, but he'll rejoin Philadelphia's rotation Tuesday against the Marlins. Walker made two minor-league rehab starts and threw 60 pitches over five frames in the second of those outings, so he'll likely have some minor workload limitations in his first couple starts back with the Phillies. He turns 32 years old Tuesday and has a 5.60 ERA, 1.49 WHIP and 43:21 K:BB across 53 innings this season.