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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Phillies' Taijuan Walker: Allows four homers in loss
Rotowire
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).
Walker will draw the start for the 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.
Phillies' Taijuan Walker: Rotation spot in jeopardy
Rotowire
Phillies manager Rob Thomson was noncommittal about 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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Phillies' Taijuan Walker: Relegated to bullpen
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Manager Rob Thomson said Thursday that 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 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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Phillies' Taijuan Walker: Tagged for 13 hits, six runs
Rotowire
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).
Phillies' Taijuan Walker: Early exit in Friday's loss
Rotowire
Walker (3-5) took the loss Friday as the 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.
