Taijuan Walker DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

Philadelphia Phillies right-hander Taijuan Walker had a throwback outing in his first start of the year on Thursday against the visiting Colorado Rockies at Citizens Bank Park in the team's 3-1 victory. Walker kept the Rockies scoreless through six innings while giving up three hits, walking one and striking out four for his first win of the 2025 season. Fantasy managers in deep leagues will want to take this outing with a grain of salt since it came against Colorado, but it was a good first outing for the 32-year-old veteran as he fills in for lefty Ranger Suarez (back) in Philly's starting rotation to begin the season. Things probably won't come as easy in his second start next week against the division-rival Atlanta Braves, though, and Walker will head back to the bullpen when Suarez is ready to return from the injured list.

Philadelphia Phillies veteran right-hander Taijuan Walker will open the year as the team's No. 5 starter with left-hander Ranger Suarez (back) opening the season on the injured list. Barring a setback as he ramps back up, Suarez could be ready to return in late April, which means that Walker should see at least a handful of starts. The 32-year-old won't be of much interest to fantasy managers in single-year leagues outside of those in deep NL-only leagues. The former first-rounder really struggled in his second year with the Phillies in 2024, going 3-7 with a career-worst 7.10 ERA (6.94 FIP), 1.72 WHIP, 58 strikeouts and 37 walks in 83 2/3 innings over 19 appearances (15 starts). It didn't help that he missed time with shoulder and finger injuries. If Walker continues to struggle like that again in 2025, he could be a candidate to be released.

MLB.com's Todd Zolecki writes that Philadelphia Phillies right-hander Taijuan Walker will enter spring training with the final bullpen spot because he is owed $36 million over the next two years. However, Walker is going to need to perform in Grapefruit League action to keep the spot. Pitchers Max Lazar, Tyler Phillips, Nick Vespi and Joel Kuhnel could leapfrog Walker for the Phillies' final bullpen spot going into Opening Day if Walker struggles. The 32-year-old Walker was initially going to be in the team's starting rotation to enter 2025, but that all changed when the Phillies acquired lefty Jesus Luzardo from the Miami Marlins this offseason. The former first-rounder in 2010 by the Seattle Mariners has aged poorly the last two years in Philadelphia, posting a 5.27 ERA (5.32 FIP) and 1.44 WHIP with 196 strikeouts and 108 walks in 256 1/3 innings over 50 outings (46 starts).

Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Taijuan Walker had a miserable outing against the New York Mets on Thursday, surrendering eight runs in just 3 IP. Walker gave up six hits, including four homers, and also walked three. The 32-year-old veteran just doesn't have it this year, pitching to an abysmal 6.91 ERA and 1.67 WHIP while being relegated to the bullpen at times. He shouldn't have a spot in the Phillies rotation come playoffs and will be hard-pressed to start for them next year unless he can find some of what he's lost.

The Philadelphia Phillies will be moving right-hander Taijuan Walker to the bullpen, according to manager Rob Thomson. The Phillies will call someone up from the minors to make the start next Tuesday against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre, and there's a good chance it will be Tyler Phillips. The Phillies have seen enough after Walker allowed six earned runs on 13 hits with one walk and no strikeouts in six innings in a blowout loss to the Houston Astros on Wednesday. The 32-year-old veteran is now 3-6 with a rough 6.50 ERA (6.30 FIP), a 1.64 WHIP, 53 strikeouts and 29 walks in 70 2/3 innings over his 14 starts in 2024. Walker's 16.8% walk rate is the lowest of his career and it's the third year it's been in decline. Phillips made his MLB debut earlier this year and hasn't been much better with a 5.50 ERA and 1.22 WHIP with a 6.8 K/9 in 36 innings over seven outings (six starts).