Phillies move struggling Walker to bullpen
The Philadelphia Phillies are moving scuffling starter Taijuan Walker to the bullpen, manager Rob Thomson said Thursday, according to MLB.com's Todd Zolecki.
Walker has pitched to a dismal 6.50 ERA and 1.64 WHIP across 14 starts with the Phillies this season. He allowed six earned runs on 13 hits against the Houston Astros on Wednesday.
Tyler Phillips is the most likely candidate to replace Walker in the Phillies' rotation on Tuesday in Toronto, but Philadelphia hasn't announced its decision, per Zolecki.
Walker, 31, is in the second season of a four-year, $72-million contract he signed with Philadelphia. He's owed $18 million in both 2025 and 2026.
The Phillies entered Thursday in first place in the NL East, five games ahead of the second-place Atlanta Braves.
HEADLINES
- Mets slug 4 HRs to trounce Phillies in 1st game of pivotal series
- DeGrom goes 3 2/3 scoreless innings in return from Tommy John
- 'Your 18': Why the number is significant to Japanese pitchers
- Tigers hold on to beat Orioles after losing combined no-hitter in 9th
- Dodgers' Glasnow suffers setback in recovery from elbow tendinitis