Phillies discuss Taijuan Walker making next start

Phillies discuss whether Taijuan Walker makes his next start originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Phillies will discuss Taijuan Walker making his next start, manager Rob Thomson said after Wednesday’s 10-0 loss in which Walker surrendered six runs on a career-high 13 hits against the Astros.

Walker has a 6.50 ERA in 14 starts this season and has not improved since a seven-week absence with a blister. He has a 9.17 ERA and a 2.04 WHIP.

“We need to talk about it” and “we need to talk about it” were Thomson’s responses when asked twice on Wednesday night whether Walker would make his next start.

The next time that rotation spot opens up is Tuesday in Toronto, but since the Phillies have Monday off, they have the option to skip the No. 5 spot. The next time they need a fifth starter is next Saturday, September 7 in Miami.

Still, that’s not an ideal option, as the Phillies would like to give all of Zack Wheeler, Aaron Nola, Ranger Suarez and Cristopher Sanchez additional playing time heading into the final month and the postseason.

“I really feel bad for him,” Thomson said of Walker. “You all know how much respect and love I have for the players and he works extremely hard. He took his time on the IL trying different things to get speed, to get action on his split. There’s no lack of effort. When guys put in the effort and it doesn’t work or you don’t see the results, it hurts. It hurts me and it hurts him, obviously.”

Walker’s fastball velocity and splitter movement have improved slightly this month, but nothing meaningful has yet to materialize.

“I’m not sure,” Thomson said when asked why that wasn’t the case. “I don’t really have an answer for it. I thought he was OK the first couple of innings and then he lost the finish in the fourth.

“There wasn’t a lot of swing-and-miss. … He definitely needs more swing-and-miss than he’s getting now.”

Walker didn’t strike out an Astro in his six innings. No Phillies pitcher in 76 years had allowed that many hits without a strikeout.

“I’ve never wrestled like this before, so it’s a little tough,” Walker said. “I feel good about myself, I feel confident in myself. I obviously want to keep going and keep working through it, I know we’re going to be pushing for the playoffs soon.”

The Phillies have two starters in Triple A that they have used recently in left-hander Kolby Allard and right-hander Tyler Phillips. Allard cannot be recalled from Triple A until Sept. 9, but Phillips can be recalled Saturday after his 15-day grace period since being sent to the minors is up. Both have outpaced Walker, especially Allard.

The Phils don’t need a fifth-place starter in October, but they do need one for another four or five rotations in September.

“Frustrating, tough,” Walker said of his last two weeks. “Obviously not the best of times or moments for me. I’m just trying to keep my faith and know that things are going to change, that they’re going to go my way.”