The Philadelphia Phillies made a significant announcement on Thursday regarding their starting rotation. Manager Rob Thomson disclosed that Taijuan Walker, who struggled in his last outing against the Houston Astros, will be moving to the bullpen. This decision comes after Walker gave up 13 hits without recording a single strikeout in his recent start.
According to reports from Citizens Bank Park, the Phillies will be calling up a new No. 5 starter to replace Walker in the rotation. The change is set to take effect before Tuesday’s game against the Toronto Blue Jays. While left-hander Kolby Allard is not yet eligible for recall from Triple-A, rookie right-hander Tyler Phillips is the likely candidate to make the start in Toronto.
The Phillies are moving Taijuan Walker to the bullpen, Rob Thomson said. They’ll call someone up to start Tuesday in Toronto. Good chance it’s Tyler Phillips.
— Matt Gelb (@MattGelb) August 29, 2024
Walker, who is in the second year of a four-year contract, has struggled to meet expectations this season. With a 6.50 ERA and 1.64 WHIP in 14 starts, he has fallen far below the team’s hopes for his performance. His lack of effectiveness on the mound has led to the decision to transition him to a relief role.
In light of Walker’s move to the bullpen, the Phillies are looking to their younger pitchers to step up and fill the void in the rotation. The team is focused on maintaining stability in their starting rotation as they head into the final stretch of the regular season. With the support of key pitchers like Zack Wheeler, Aaron Nola, and Ranger Suárez, the Phillies are aiming to secure their position for a postseason run.
Follow Adam on Twitter: @SixersAdam
Follow PhillyVoice on Twitter: @thephillyvoice