Phillies demote scuffling RHP Taijuan Walker to bullpen

The Philadelphia Phillies demoted struggling right-hander Taijuan Walker to the bullpen on Thursday, one day after a horrific start against the Houston Astros.

Walker was torched for six runs and 13 hits in six innings during Wednesday’s 10-0 loss to the Houston Astros. He didn’t have any strikeouts.

The poor showing saw Walker’s ERA rise to 6.50. He is 3-6 in 14 starts.

Phillies manager Rob Thomson said Walker was a “complete professional” when informed of the decision hours before Thursday’s game against the Atlanta Braves.

Thomson said Walker’s first relief appearance will come when there is little pressure.

“The perfect situation would be one inning, low leverage, and then start building from there,” Thomson said.

Walker is in the second season of a four-year, $72 million contract.

Earlier this season, he missed nearly two months due to a right index finger injury. He is 0-3 with a 9.17 ERA in four outings since coming off the injured list.

Thomson said that Walker has put in the work to try to turn his season around.

“I feel bad for him. I really do,” Thomson said. “Because I think all of you know how much I respect and love the players. And he works extremely hard.

“And he’s taken that time on the IL to try different things to gain velocity, to gain action on his split. There’s no lack of effort there.”

Walker, 32, posted a career high for victories when he went 15-6 with a 4.38 ERA in 31 starts last season in his first campaign with the Phillies. But Philadelphia didn’t use him once in the postseason — the club played in three rounds — and that drew Walker’s ire.

Then this season, the 12-year-veteran never got things going and he has served up 18 homers in just 70 2/3 innings.

Things bottomed out against Houston as Walker became the first Phillies pitcher since Blix Donnelly on April 28, 1948 to allow 13 hits without striking out a single batter.

Walker knows his performance hasn’t been up to par.

“It’s, obviously, not the best times,” Walker told reporters after Wednesday’s start. “I feel like I’ve never really struggled like this, so it’s a little tough right now. I feel good about myself. I feel confident in myself. Obviously, I want to keep going and keep working through it. I know we’re pushing for the playoffs, but just keep going.”

Walker owns a 72-62 record and 4.12 ERA in 212 appearances (208 starts) with the Seattle Mariners (2013-16, 2020), Arizona Diamondbacks (2017-19), Toronto Blue Jays (2020), New York Mets (2021-22) and Phillies. He was an All-Star for the Mets in 2021.

Also, the Phillies recalled right-hander Yunior Marte from Triple-A Lehigh Valley prior to the opener of the four-game series against the Braves and optioned right-hander Michael Mercado to the same affiliate.

Marte, 29, had 22 relief appearances for the Phillies earlier this season and had a 7.13 ERA in 24 innings. He is 2-2 with a 5.66 ERA in 101 relief appearances over the past three seasons for the San Francisco Giants (2022) and Phillies.

Mercado, 25, made his major league debut June 24 and went 1-2 with an 11.08 ERA in five appearances (two starts).

With one month remaining in the regular season, the Phillies entered play Thursday with the second-best record in the National League at 78-55, one game behind the Los Angeles Dodgers. Philadelphia’s lead in the NL East is five games over the Braves.

“There’s a lot on the line for both teams,” Thomson said. “A good rivalry. One of the better rivalries in baseball right now. It’s going to be a fun weekend.”

–Field Level Media