Apr 3, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Taijuan Walker (99) throws a pitch during the third inning against the Colorado Rockies at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images Bill Streicher
Ranger Suárez will take the ball Sunday after missing the first month-plus of the regular season with low back stiffness. That, at least temporarily, has forced Taijuan Walker to the bullpen.
Rob Thomson announced after Saturday's 7-2 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks that the Phillies are moving Walker to the bullpen because Suárez's return leaves the club with six starters when you also factor in Zack Wheeler, Aaron Nola, Jesús Luzardo and Cristopher Sánchez.
"We can use him one inning, two innings — various ways," Thomson said of Walker's role now.
Still, Walker has rebounded so far from a disastrous 2024 season to post a 2.54 ERA across his first six starts of the season. It had to be a difficult conversation to inform Walker he was being moved to the bullpen, even if that was a fairly obvious outcome here.
"It is [difficult], because I know how hard he's worked," Thomson acknowledged Saturday night. "I know what type of a competitor he is. Yeah ... it's difficult.
"But we gotta sort of move on," Thomson continued. "That doesn't mean we're not gonna go to a six-man at some point. But I think we do a five-man at least until the next off day, meaning not Monday, but the off day after that [May 15]. And then we'll see where we're at."
Rob Thomson was asked by @TimKellySports if it was a difficult discussion informing Taijuan Walker he was going to the bullpen given how well he’s pitched. pic.twitter.com/SfwEMt8dAZ
As for whether Walker will be available in relief of Suárez Sunday afternoon as the Phillies go for the sweep, that remains to be seen.
"Gotta check in with him," Thomson said. "He threw three days ago, so it's really kind of a bullpen day. Maybe you get an inning out of him, but we gotta check in because I want to take care of him."
