Tori Sheffer

How do You Solve a Problem Like Taijuan?

As bright as the Phillies’ 2024 season has been, one dark cloud seems to loom over the team every fifth game: Taijuan Walker. It comes as no surprise that after Walker’s start last night against the Atlanta Braves he is now being moved to the bullpen. After signing a four-year, $72 million deal back in December 2022, Phillies GM Dave Dombrowski and Manager Rob Thompson have given the once-star starting pitcher more grace than Philly Faithful, in hopes that he would return to the form he once was when pitching for the rival Mets just a few seasons ago. It’s only been two years into the four-year deal, and now their “prize” acquisition will be a bullpen piece.

It’s been a rough few seasons for Taijuan, but it’s been equally as tough on the front office for having to still deal with rough start after rough start. This season alone, Walker is only posting a 3-6 record with a massively inflated 6.50 ERA, one of the worst in all of Major League Baseball. According to most, Walker should’ve moved a few months ago after returning to the IL for a blister on his throwing hand, but some (including Dombrowski and Topper). In his past two seasons with Philly, he’s managed to give up 38 home runs and over 100 earned runs; yet somehow still managed to collect the best record during the 2023 season when he went 15-6. In 2023, Walker had a rocky start, as the whole team did, but both ended up improving as the season went on, resulting in being division champions; however, this season it is not the same case. Taijuan Walker never seemed to find that groove that was there last season, and now that he’s been pitching at his worst, the Phillies have to be wondering: what are we going to do with him?

For now, he’ll be in the bullpen, that part we know. Hopefully, this will allow him to find his footing again because with the few bullpen starts he’s had, Walker has pitched well posing a 2.64 and a 0.97 WHIP. He gets back on track, and the Phillies gain a much-needed left-handed pitcher in the arm barn with Alvarado taking some personal time away. The one downside for the Phils now is the fact that they are now down a starting pitcher while trying to solidify their spot as the best in the National League.

Kolby Allard, who was the Phillies’ initial “back-up” starter if things went awry at some point throughout the season, Allard could step in. He’s had two brief stints with the big league club, and both have been pretty impressive. He’s currently posting a 3.50 ERA and has a 2-0 record. There’s just one issue, he was optioned back down to AAA just four days ago and cannot get recalled to the big league team until September 10th at the earliest, so he will likely become a September call-up instead of being the pitcher needed to fill Walker’s open spot. As reported earlier today from a few local news outlets, local South Jersey native, Tyler Phillips, will be recalled from Lehigh Valley. Phillips, a rookie this season, has had a fairly decent first year in the big leagues. While his ERA is not the greatest, sitting right now at 5.50, he has a 4-1 record, 27 strikeouts, and a 1.22 WHIP. He’ll most likely slide into the five spot in Walker’s place until Allard can be called back up during September’s expanded 28-man roster. Most likely, Allard and Kody Clements will be the two taking the last two spots on the MLB roster.

While the Phillies are still first in the NL East with their 79-56, they no longer have the best record in baseball. They’re now 1.5 games back, tied with the Yankees of the AL East and the Brewers of the NL Central; however, with more than twenty-five games left. If they play well in this last Braves series, they should be just fine to not only make the postseason, but take the NL East Division Title from the Braves for the first time since 2018 (the Phillies’ first Division win since 2011). Phillies fans have known for the past few years how special this team truly is, and 2024 is no exception. The Phillies have hoped to get back to the Fall Classic, and this seems to be the time, according to fans, players, and reporters alike. Now that Taijuan Walker is in the bullpen, ready to either eat innings or become a long-term reliever, it will make the team even stronger resulting in one step closer to seeing the World Series trophy when all is said and done in October.