PHILADELPHIA -- Taijuan Walker is set to pitch Friday's series opener against the Phillies National League East rival Atlanta Braves. The question, until yesterday, was in what capacity.
After some deliberation about using an opener ahead of Walker, Phillies manager Rob Thomson confirmed he would let his swing man start the game. The reason they considered going with the opener strategy is based on diving into the numbers to help navigate around Walker's early-season struggles - similar to what the club is doing to fix whatever ails fellow starter Jesús Luzardo.
Walker has been through a lot of changes these past few years in Philadelphia. He went from leading the team in wins to being left off the postseason roster to a reliable swing-man each of the last three years. So yet another change would not be new for Walker.
The thing that has plagued him most in Philly is the opening frame. Walker has allowed 12 earned runs this season, nine of which have come in the first inning. Since signing with the Phillies in 2023, Walker has allowed the more first inning earned runs than any other starter in the majors.
Despite this and the internal conversations, Thomson confirmed Wednesday they will stick with starting for now and start with a process change. "I think that they're going to change up his process a little bit," the manager told reporters. "(His) pregame process. We're still working through it, but as of right now he is starting."
I asked Thomson if part of the change in process and potential to use an opener was to get Walker better prepared for an eventual assumed move back to the bullpen upon Zack Wheeler's return from last season's surgery. "We've not talked about him going to the bullpen," Thomson said affirmatively. He doubled down, confirming the change in approach was strictly to get Walker right and related to what he does in the weight room pregame.
While it is presumed Walker would return to the rotation shortly, the Phillies have a stretch of 13 straight games without an off day beginning on April 28. They could consider using a six-man rotation when Wheeler returns to take things easy on him, Painter - who set a career high in innings last year, Luzardo - who has struggled to start the year, and Walker for the reasons mentioned above.
Speaking of the Phillies ace, Wheeler went 5 2/3 innings for the Reading Fightin' Phils this week, throwing 72 pitches (49 for strikes). After five scoreless innings, he gave up an RBI double in the bottom of the sixth, and he left two runners on base who would come around to score.
Thomson said he spoke with Wheeler about the outing prior to Wednesday's Phillies game. "(Wheeler) said he felt really good about it," the manager said. "He feels good today, normal after a start." He confirmed the plan is to move forward with another rehab start Sunday, where Wheeler is expected to throw 90 pitches.
Philly's manager confirmed that the club will reevaluate after that day to determine if another rehab start is needed prior to Wheeler joiing the big league club. The latest his rehab assignment can go is April 26, barring any setback. If another rehab appearance is not needed, Wheeler would join the Phillies during their upcoming roadtrip to Chicago and Atlanta.
