Next start should be last in Phillies uniform for this pitcher

The next start Taijuan Walker makes, on Aug. 28, should be his last in a Phillies uniform. Originally Cristopher Sanchez was scheduled to start that game. On Aug. 26, Phillies manager Rob Thomson announced the adjustment to the order. Sanchez is now scheduled to start the series opener against the Atlanta Braves on Aug. 29. This seems to set up having Ranger Suarez, Zack Wheeler and Aaron Nola start the other three games against the Braves. 

Having the Phillies best starting pitchers pitch in this series is a good move. That series is the most important series for the Phillies this season to date. The series might decide who wins the NL East. It has not yet been made official who will start for the Phillies in the other three games in that series. 

In 13 starts this season, Walker has a 3-5 record with a 6.26 ERA and 53 strikeouts. Walker has a 66 ERA+ and a 6.34 FIP this season. Among starters with at least 60 innings pitched this season, Walker has the fourth-worst ERA and the third-worst FIP. Walker has the third worst fWAR among those pitchers as well. In addition, Walker has a -0.4 fWAR and a -0.6 bWAR this season. Walker has a 151 ERA- this season. Furthermore, Walker has the fourth-worst ERA- among starters with at least 60 innings pitched this season. Walker has an 18.5 percent strikeout rate and a 9.8 percent walk rate this season. A -1.45 win probability added sees Walker ranked as the 10th worst in that category among starters with at least 60 innings pitched this season.

Part of the struggles Walker has this season is because he allows so many hard-hit balls. Walker has the most hard-hit balls against this season, 50.0 percent of pitches hitters have made contact against, among starters with at least 60 innings pitched. Currently, Baseball Savant has Walker in the first percentile in hard-hit balls this season. Walker has allowed 102 hard-hit balls and has allowed 29 barrels this season. The 14.2 percent barrel percentage Walker has is the worst among starters with 60 innings or more pitched this season. Walker also ranks worst in that group in average exit velocity. Opposing batters have a 92.1 mph average exit velocity against Walker this season.

The Phillies rotation is set up in a way where Walker’s start on Aug. 28 will be his last before rosters expand. This would allow Walker to be moved to the bullpen easily for the remainder of the regular season. Walker should not be on the Phillies postseason roster. Spencer Turnbull is currently scheduled to return from injury in September as well. Putting Walker in the bullpen and then moving on in the offseason is the best option at this point. If the Phillies intended to release Walker before rosters expand on Sept. 1, they would have done it already. Walker has four relief appearances in his major league career. The most recent of those appearances came in 2021 for the New York Mets.

With rosters expanding, there are multiple options available to fill the open rotation spot. One candidate is Michael Mercado. Currently, Mercado is on the Phillies 26-man roster. However, this season, Mercado has a 1-2 record with a 9.26 ERA and a 10.54 FIP in four outings, including two starts, this season. Kolby Allard is another option. Allard has a 2-0 record with a 3.50 ERA and a 5.67 FIP in four games, including three starts, this season. It is worth noting that Allard was optioned to Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Aug. 26, meaning he might not be eligible to be recalled on September 1. The MLB rule on options does not explicitly state that the required stay after being optioned goes away when rosters expand.