Taijuan Walker, Phillies No. 4 and No. 5 starting pitchers continue to crash and burn in Clearwater

Next week, the Philadelphia Phillies will begin the 2024 MLB season at home against the Atlanta Braves. It also marks Year No. 2 of Taijuan Walker’s 4-year $72 million contract that he inked with the organization ahead of the 2023 season. 

Earlier this week, Walker coughed up five hits, seven runs, three walks, and three home runs in just 2.3 innings against the Baltimore Orioles while managing to strike out just one batter. 

Note: The Baltimore Orioles are not talking about Taijuan Walker

He's ready. pic.twitter.com/TTdIbwRP90

— Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) March 20, 2024

His fastball hasn’t moved from the 89-92mph range all Spring and back March 9th, it was as low as 88-90mph. 

Here’s the concern, Walker is on this 4-year contract with nearly $52 million left to be paid and after starting last year very strong, he was pretty miserable down the stretch. On the year, Walker posted a 15-6 record with a 4.38 ERA over 31 starts but the majority of his success was found before the All-Star Break. 

Taijuan Walker 2023 Splits 

Before All-Star Break: 10-3, 4.02 ERA

Post All-Star Break: 5-3, 4.83 ERA

Listen, I never really bought in to the drama surrounding Walker not pitching in the postseason. He was brought here to pitch in the back half of the rotation and outside of the NLCS, there was never a shot he would make it into a ball game. Pair that with the fact that he had a season-long record of being absolutely terrible in the first inning of games when he started (7.04 ERA) and it’s no surprise that Topper decided to leave him on the bench in October. 

The main concern is that the Phillies didn’t really make any starting pitching roles outside of re-signing Aaron Nola over the offseason. 

Phillies Projected Starting Rotation 

1. Zack Wheeler
2. Aaron Nola 
3. Ranger Suarez 
4. Taijuan Walker 
5. Cristopher Sanchez 

Obviously, the top three in the rotation are as solid as they come. Zack Wheeler is dominant and Aaron Nola, fresh off a shiny new contract, is looking to bounce back after a disappointing 2023 campaign. Ranger Suarez, who battled injuries throughout last season, is healthy and has literally been un-hittable during Spring Training. 

Shoutout Ranger Suarez

Behind Walker, we have Cristopher Sanchez who posted a 3-5 record last season as a starting pitcher with a 3.44 ERA over 18 starts. Sanchez was the guy who Topper turned to in the postseason over walker but only pitched 2.1 innings and allowed two hits, an earned run, and a walk against the D-Backs in the NLCS. 

To be clear, I’m not confident in either of them, but Sanchez shows much more promise than the veteran Taijuan Walker. 

Really, the best possible outcome is the Phillies making a move on Jordan Montgomery and hope that Mick Abel begins his 2024 minor league campaign in Lehigh Valley on the right foot. 

Phillies Top 5 Prospects

1. Andrew Painter, RHP (MLB No. 27)
2. Mick Abel, RHP (MLB No. 49)

Abel struck out four in 4.2 innings over two Grapefruit League appearances for the Phillies this Spring. His performance was highlighted by a nasty strikeout, facing Juan Soto in a Grapefruit League game against the Yankees last Monday. 

Mick Abel, @Phillies No. 2 and @MLBPipeline's No. 49 prospect, is showing off the filth at #SpringBreakout pic.twitter.com/i643MGOj0v

— MLB (@MLB) March 16, 2024

Last season in the minors, Abel made it to Triple-A Lehigh Valley last season and has posted a 14-20 record with a 4.09 ERA.

That’s pretty much all we have right now for starting pitchers in the Phillies organization. Andrew Painter is recovering from Tommy John Surgery and shelved until 2025 while Griff McGarry’s fall from grace has reached new lows.

For whatever reason, the Phillies don’t seem to be too concerned but I doubt that they continue much longer with Walker and Sanchez in the 4/5 spots of the starting rotation.

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