Sep 14, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Taijuan Walker (99) delivers a pitch against the New York Mets during the sixth inning at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images
You know it's a low bar to clear when all it took was three scoreless innings against 11 batters in which you neither struck out a batter nor walked one to reclaim your spot in the Phillies rotation.
Yet, that's what happened Monday when manager Rob Thomson told reporters in Milwaukee that Taijuan Walker would once again be back in the starting rotation, and would start Thursday in New York against the Mets in a game that could be the one that secures the Phillies their first N.L. East title in 13 years.
Taijuan Walker will start on Thursday against the Mets, Rob Thomson announced.
What a story that would be for the video yearbook, eh?
The reality is, that for all his flaws this season, Walker is, in fact, the best option the Phillies have for that No. 5 spot in the rotation. It's not saying much, but they've tried Tyler Phillips and Kolby Allard and Phillips again and Seth Johnson and Allard again, and none of them were even remotely close to being able to hold it down.
The Phillies, like every team in major league baseball except for maybe the Seattle Mariners, who have gotten quality starting pitching from that spot in the rotation, had a hard time finding a consistent No. 5 starter this season, especially after Spencer Turnbull went down with a muscle strain in his throwing shoulder.
Walker was the primary reason why. He missed time with sepearate injuries this season, first a knee and then a blister on his throwing hand, but he never really got it together, causing the Phillies to look elswhere for rotational depth.
However, if you had to rank Walker's two best appearances this season, both would have come against the Mets.
Walker started the second game in London and pitched well. He threw 5 2/3 innings and allowed two runs on just two hits and one walk while striking out six.
Upcoming Milestones:
Bryce Harper
32 RBI away from 1,000
Trea Turner
25 Stolen Bases away from 300
Taijuan Walker
1 Strikeout away from 1,000
Carlos Estevez
20 Saves away from 100pic.twitter.com/s87y6GevNs
Then there was Saturday as he stabilized a game the Phillies were trailing 4-0. His triage work out of the bullpen for three innings allowed them to get back into the game and eventually pull off an epic comeback victory.
Those two appearances alone, plus another short but passable outing against the Mets in May (3 1/3 innings, two runs on four hits) is enough for the Phillies to consider him their best option on Thursday.
Allard is being moved to the bullpen and either he or Tyler Gilbert would likely be the guy called on if Walker has a blowup start.
As one would expect, Phillies fans handled the news with decorum.
STUPID STUPID DECISION TO START TAIJUAN WALKER.
Thomson is, as the Canadians say, a hoser.
— Matt DeAngelis (@mattdean7_matt) September 16, 2024
Why this is such a hot button issue when it's truly a regular season problem only is befuddling, but hey, fans are going to fan.
