Phillies' Taijuan Walker: Fans five in no-decision
Rotowire
Walker didn't factor into the decision in Friday's 5-4 loss to the Nationals, giving up three runs on three hits and three walks over five innings. He struck out five.
All the damage came on a first-inning homer by Riley Adams, but Walker kept his focus and got taken off the hook for the loss when the Phillies tied things up in the bottom of the sixth. Top prospect Andrew Painter still lurks as a rotation option for the stretch run, but Walker's been steady as the team's fifth starter, lasting at least five innings in six straight trips to the mound while posting a 2.88 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 17:6 K:BB over 34.1 innings. The veteran righty is scheduled to make his next start on the road next week in a crucial NL East clash with the Mets.
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Phillies' Taijuan Walker: Stuck with loss in quality start
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Walker (4-6) took the loss Saturday as the Phillies fell 2-0 to the Nationals, giving up two runs on six hits and two walks over 6.2 innings. He struck out three.
The veteran righty fired 60 of 94 pitches for strikes en route to his third straight quality start, but Philadelphia's hitters couldn't solve Washington starter Cade Cavalli, giving Walker no margin for error. He appeared set to lose his rotation spot with Aaron Nola (ribs) poised to come off the IL on Sunday, but with Zack Wheeler now dealing with a blood clot in his shoulder, the Phillies will need Walker to remain in his current role. Over six outings since the All-Star break, Walker sports a 2.97 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 16:4 K:BB in 33.1 innings. He'll look for more run support in his next trip to the mound, which is scheduled to come at home next weekend in a rematch with the Nats.
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Phillies' Taijuan Walker: Impressive again in no-decision
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Walker allowed one run on six hits and one walk over six frames while not factoring into the decision in Monday's 4-1 victory at Cincinnati. He struck out two.
The 32-year-old tallied his third quality start of the season in this 93-pitch performance. The lone blemish on Walker's outing was a run scored on a Gavin Lux single in the first inning. The Phillies right-hander has been impressive since rejoining the rotation July 8, producing a 2.93 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and 16:4 K:BB across 30.2 frames since that date. Despite the hot stretch, Walker is likely to return to the bullpen after Aaron Nola (ankle/rib) returns in Philadelphia's weekend road series at Washington. Walker is tentatively scheduled to make one more start in the weekend series against the Nationals before Nola is back.
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Phillies' Taijuan Walker: Dazzles against Orioles
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Walker (4-5) got the win over the Orioles on Tuesday, tossing six scoreless innings while allowing just four hits, no walks and striking out four.
Walker was brilliant Tuesday night, completing six innings without allowing a run or a walk for the first time since September of 2016. Walker's made 13 starts this season and this marked just his second time reaching six innings. Since returning to the rotation in July, Walker owns a 3.28 ERA 1.26 WHIP and 14:3 K:BB in 24.2 innings across five starts. With Aaron Nola (ankle/rib) nearing a return, it's up in the air whether Walker will get another turn in the rotation or if he'll return to relief duty.
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Phillies' Taijuan Walker: Goes five innings in no-decision
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Walker did not factor into the decision Wednesday against the White Sox, allowing two runs on seven hits over five innings.
The two runs charged to Walker came on a pair of solo homers -- Kyle Teel opened the scoring in the first inning before Colson Montgomery took the right-hander deep to tie the game in the fourth. The 32-year-old Walker has made 12 starts for the Phillies this season, though he's yet to make it through six innings since his first outing of the year April 3 against Colorado. Overall, his ERA sits at 3.82 with a 1.36 WHIP and 56:25 K:BB across 73 innings this season. Walker is expected to remain in a starting role until Aaron Nola (ankle/rib) is ready to return, though he could be relegated to the bullpen if the Phillies elect to bolster their rotation ahead of Thursday's trade deadline.
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Phillies' Taijuan Walker: Hit hard in no-decision
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Walker came away with a no-decision in Friday's 12-5 win over the Yankees, giving up three runs on six hits -- including three home runs -- over 5.2 innings. He struck out three without walking a batter.
Solo shots by Cody Bellinger in the first inning, Austin Wells in the second and Giancarlo Stanton in the sixth accounted for all the damage off Walker, who got the hook after 83 pitches (55 strikes), one out short of his second quality start of the season. The veteran righty has served up five homers in his last two starts, but he's allowed just six runs total in those outings and will likely continue to hold down a rotation spot until Aaron Nola (ribs) is ready to return. Walker lines up to make his next trip to the mound on the road next week against the White Sox.
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Phillies' Taijuan Walker: Allows two homers in no-decision
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Walker did not factor into the decision in Saturday's 9-5 win over the Angels, allowing three runs on nine hits and one walk with four strikeouts over four innings.
Walker opened with three scoreless innings before giving up back-to-back homers in a three-run fourth. The 32-year-old threw 50 of 70 pitches for strikes but generated just four whiffs and has completed only four frames in both of his starts since rejoining the rotation July 8. He'll take a 3.75 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and 53:25 K:BB across 62.1 innings into a tough matchup with the Yankees next weekend.
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Phillies' Taijuan Walker: Awarded another start
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Walker is slated to make his next start Saturday against the Angels in Philadelphia, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.
After the Phillies optioned Mick Abel to Triple-A Lehigh Valley on July 4, Walker stepped in last week to fill the vacant rotation spot. Though he had made each of his previous nine appearances out of the bullpen, Walker came through with a strong showing July 8 in San Francisco, limiting the Giants to one run on two hits and two walks over four innings. Walker will likely have a longer leash during Saturday's contest, and he should be able to maintain a spot in the rotation until Aaron Nola (ankle/rib) is ready to return from the 60-day injured list around early or mid-August.
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Phillies' Taijuan Walker: Fine effort in starting role
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Walker allowed a run on two hits and two walks while striking out three over four innings in a no-decision Tuesday versus the Giants.
Walker struggled in the second inning, but he escaped with just one run on his ledger. This was his first start since May 30 -- he allowed five runs over 11 innings across nine relief appearances, going 1-1 with a hold and two blown saves during his time in the bullpen. Overall, Walker has a decent 3.55 ERA with a poor 1.30 WHIP and 49:24 K:BB through 58.1 innings over 20 appearances (nine starts) this season. It remains to be seen if he'll continue to function as a starter after the All-Star break.
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Phillies' Taijuan Walker: Rejoining rotation
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Walker will re-enter the Phillies' starting rotation Tuesday against the Giants in San Francisco, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.
The veteran right-hander worked as a starter for Philadelphia early in the season but has spent the past month pitching out of the bullpen, and he's been decent in both roles with a 3.64 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 46:22 K:BB across 54.1 innings overall. Walker would likely only be able to cover about four innings while filling the spot vacated by Mick Abel, who was optioned to Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Friday. Walker isn't guaranteed to stick in the rotation after the All-Star break, as the Phillies could soon be ready to call up top pitching prospect Andrew Painter from Triple-A to join the rotation. Aaron Nola (rib/ankle) will also be eligible to return from the 60-day injured list following the break, though it's unclear how close he might be to a return.
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Phillies' Taijuan Walker: Filling middle-relief role
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Walker threw a clean sixth inning, fanning one during Monday's 5-2 win over the Marlins.
Since moving to the bullpen for the second time this season, Walker has worked primarily as a middle reliever for the Phillies. The veteran right-hander has tossed a single inning in each of his last five outings, giving up two runs during that span. Through 11 frames (seven appearances) as a reliever this year, Walker owns a strong 3.27 ERA, 0.91 WHIP and 13:3 K:BB with a save plus a hold.
Phillies manager Rob Thomson said that Walker will move back to the bullpen this week, Adam Aaronson of PhillyVoice.com reports. "I want to see him in a one-inning stint and see what he can do," Thomson said of Walker.
Though Aaron Nola (ankle) won't be ready to return from the 15-day injured list the next time a fifth starter is needed Thursday in Toronto, the Phillies will instead call up Mick Abel from Triple-A Lehigh Valley to fill the void. Walker, who was roughed up for four earned runs in four innings against Milwaukee this past Friday, isn't expected to be available out of the bullpen until Tuesday or Wednesday coming off the 89-pitch start. Once he's ready to go, Thomson plans to give the right-hander a trial as a high-leverage reliever, perhaps as a setup man in front of closer Jordan Romano. The manager is optimistic that the shift in role could revive Walker's career, as the 32-year-old has largely disappointed as a starter since signing a four-year, $72 million deal with Philadelphia following the 2022 season.
Walker (2-4) took the loss against the Brewers on Friday, allowing four runs on seven hits and one walk with six strikeouts over four innings.
Walker allowed two runs in the first inning and was charged with two more after failing to record an out in the fifth. While he did generate 11 whiffs, he threw only 53 of 89 pitches for strikes and was unable to complete five innings for the fourth time in eight starts this season. The 32-year-old owns a 3.53 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and 39:17 K:BB across 43.1 innings between starting and relief roles. If he gets another shot in the rotation, it should come on the road against the Blue Jays next week.
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Phillies' Taijuan Walker: Another start coming Friday
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Walker is slated to start Friday's game against the Brewers in Philadelphia, Theo DeRosa of MLB.com reports.
Aaron Nola is eligible to return from the injured list Friday, but he looks as though he'll require a little more time beyond the minimum 15 days to recover from a right ankle sprain before getting activated. As a result, Walker will receive a second straight turn in the rotation in Nola's stead. While making his first start since May 1 last Wednesday in Colorado, Walker scooped up a win while allowing three runs on six hits and two walks and striking out two over five innings. He'll head into Friday's outing with a 2.97 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 33:16 K:BB in 39.1 innings through his nine appearances (seven starts) on the season.
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Phillies' Taijuan Walker: Completes five frames for win
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Walker (2-3) earned the win over Colorado on Wednesday, allowing three runs on six hits and two walks while striking out two batters over five innings.
Walker made his first start since May 1, taking Aaron Nola's spot in the rotation after the latter landed on the IL due to a sprained right ankle. Walker wasn't spectacular in Colorado -- he got just five whiffs and allowed a single run in each of the first, second and fourth innings -- but the right-hander lasted just long enough to qualify for the victory. Walker's strongest trait Wednesday was his willingness to go after batters; he threw a first-pitch strike to 19 of the 23 hitters he faced and registered 49 total strikes among his 68 pitches. It's unclear how many more turns in the rotation Walker will get (if any), as the Phillies have an off day coming up Monday, and Nola is eligible to return from from the injured list May 30.
Walker will re-enter the Phillies rotation next week in Colorado in place of the injured Aaron Nola (ankle), Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.
The Phillies haven't revealed the exact day Walker will slot in, but he will receive at least a couple starts while Nola is sidelined. Walker pitched well in the rotation earlier this season, collecting a 2.54 ERA and 22:13 K:BB over 28.1 innings covering six starts. He has since made two long-relief appearances, allowing a total of three runs (two earned) over six innings.
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