Philadelphia Phillies DVOA, Stats, & MLB Rankings

Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Taijuan Walker (finger) made his first rehab outing on Wednesday evening with Double-A Reading. He tossed 41 pitches across two innings. He struck out three but had some trouble allowing four hits and three runs (two earned). Walker has been sidelined since late June with a blister on his right index finger. The 31-year-old might need one more rehab appearance to increase his pitch count before returning to the big leagues. Prior to the injury, Walker has had a disappointing season carrying a 5.60 ERA, 1.49 WHIP, and a 21:43 BB:K ratio. If Walker misses another turn in the rotation, left-handed pitcher Kolby Allard is likely to earn another start.

The Philadelphia Phillies acquired left-hander Tanner Banks from the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday, according to a source familiar with the deal. It's unclear what the Phillies sent to Chicago in return. Banks, a 32-year-old southpaw reliever, has a 2-2 record this year with a 4.13 ERA (3.28 FIP), a 1.29 WHIP, two saves, a career-high 55 strikeouts and 15 walks in 48 innings over 41 appearances (one start) in his third year in the big leagues. He has plenty of experience pitching in high-leverage situations this year with Chicago's bullpen being so depleted, but he'll likely take up more of a middle-relief role in his new digs with the first-place Phillies. In his three seasons with the White Sox, Banks has recorded a 3.89 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 22.9% strikeout rate with three saves in 162 innings pitched. He can continue to be ignored for fantasy purposes.

Baltimore Orioles starting pitching prospect Seth Johnson was traded to the Phillies in exchange for relief pitcher Gregory Soto on Tuesday. Johnson got his first extended look at Double-A this summer and held his own with a 2.63 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, and a 35:61 BB:K ratio. Since June 1, the 25-year-old has held a 1.89 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, and 18:30 BB:K ratio. Johnson will likely remain in Double-A over the next few weeks but could get a brief taste of Triple-A ball later this summer. The right-hander will join a strong Philadelphia pitching system that has potential stars in Andrew Painter and Mick Abel. Johnson is a name to keep an eye on in dynasty leagues, as he should push for his major league debut sometime next summer.

Philadelphia Phillies right-hander Spencer Turnbull (lat) threw approximately 10 pitches in a bullpen session ahead of Monday's series opener against the visiting New York Yankees at Citizens Bank Park. If he bounces back from the session well, he could continue his rehab in Clearwater, Florida. Turnbull is working his way back from a strained right lat and should be back to help the Phillies at some point either in late August or early September, but because there will likely not be enough time to stretch him out as a starter, he is likely to come back to a bullpen role. Despite working to a career-best 2.65 ERA and .188 opposition batting average with a 58:20 K:BB over 54 1/3 innings (seven starts) for Philly this year, the 31-year-old veteran swingman isn't a great stash in fantasy leagues without a certain role upon his return.

Philadelphia Phillies right-hander Taijuan Walker (finger) is progressing and will make a minor-league rehab start with Double-A Reading on Wednesday. For now, Kolby Allard will stay in the team's starting rotation and start against the Mariners in Seattle this week, but Walker will eventually take his spot when he's deemed healthy enough to return from the 15-day injured list. The 31-year-old Walker is working his way back from a blister and inflammation in his right index finger that has kept him out since late June. It's unclear if Walker will need more than one rehab start in the minors, but either way, he should be back with the Phillies in early August, barring a setback. Walker was pretty inconsistent in his 10 starts (53 innings) before going on the shelf, going 3-3 for the Phils with a 5.60 ERA and 1.49 WHIP with only 43 punchouts.