Phillies giving Taijuan Walker ‘another shot’ in rotation

Taijuan Walker will make another start for the Phillies. It just won’t be against the division rival Atlanta Braves.

Rob Thomson announced prior to Monday’s game that Walker will make his next start on normal rest on Wednesday against the Houston Astros. Cristopher Sánchez will get an extra day of rest and pitch Thursday against the Braves.

Thomson framed it as more about getting Sánchez additional rest as opposed to making sure Walker does not pitch in an important divisional matchup. “He’s fine, but I’m worried about those innings,” Thomson said about Sánchez, who is at 146 1/3 innings in 2024.

As far as Walker goes, he will get another chance. It will come against a formidable opponent in the resurgent Astros, who look poised to win their seventh AL West title since switching leagues in 2013.

“I think he deserves, because of who he is and his experience, he deserves another shot,” Thomson said about Walker.

It’s been a rough season for Walker, who has a 6.26 ERA in 13 starts in 2024. He began the season on the injured list with right shoulder soreness, made his season debut on April 28 and pitched to a 5.60 ERA before going back on the injured list with right index finger inflammation on June 23.

The Phillies and Walker decided to take it slow and give him some time to both regain some velocity and a better feel for his best pitch, the splitter. He was reinstated on Aug. 13 and has not looked any better. His performance on Saturday in Kansas City — six earned runs through three innings — looked like the nail in the coffin.

But the Phillies will give Walker at least one more chance to prove that he can be a useful contributor for the team down the stretch. Maybe if things click, the Phillies will keep him in the rotation and count on him to eat innings. If not, a big change might be coming.

“I’m confident he’s gonna bounce back,” Thomson said. “Maybe not everybody is, but I am. That’s just who I am.”

Prior to Thomson’s announcement on the rotation, the team put out a few roster moves. Weston Wilson was placed on the paternity list. Reliever Max Lazar was recalled to take his place, which is important considering that Lazar, who was optioned on Saturday, was not eligible to be recalled to the big leagues unless he was replacing an injured player or in Wilson’s case, one who was going on the paternity list.

To take Wilson’s spot on the bench, Millville N.J. native Buddy Kennedy was recalled from Lehigh Valley. Sunday’s starter Kolby Allard was also optioned to Lehigh Valley.

Going forward, the Phillies will operate with a five-man rotation, Thomson announced. Lazar is also eligible to stay with the big league club once Wilson’s stint on the paternity list is up.

Wilson can spend a maximum of three days on the paternity list.

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