Taijuan

Walker

Walker was serviceable for the Phillies last season, posting a 4.08 ERA in 123 2/3 innings, but he had a 9.13 ERA in 22 2/3 innings this year. He has not posted a strikeout rate over 16 percent since 2023, so this move is not entirely surprising. With Zack Wheeler (shoulder) coming off the injured list on Saturday, he will slide into Walker’s spot in the rotation.

Putting an opener in front of Walker didn’t yield the results the Phillies were hoping for as he gave up eight hits, including homers to Michael Busch and Seiya Suzuki. Simply put, he’s not a recommended fantasy option moving forward.

Walker has been awful in his first few outings, and he’s earned every bit of his 9.16 ERA. Who exactly will be the opener hasn’t been announced — and really doesn’t matter from a fantasy perspective — but the hope is that working a bulk role will allow Walker to be more effective. He still has a chance to earn a win, but fantasy managers should probably look elsewhere for that outing.

Yikes. Walker got absolutely eviscerated in this one. The Braves loaded the bases with no outs in the first inning and it felt like Walker never caught his breath. They wound up with six runs home by the end of the second and the rout was on. Walker’s stuff has lost its zip and his command is so-so at best. It doesn’t feel so out of place to see him with a 9.16 ERA a few weeks into the season. His days in the Phillies’ rotation are likely numbered with Zack Wheeler making his way through a rehab stint.

Manager Rob Thomson said he wanted to break up his two righties, but that means that Painter will be on a full week’s rest since his last performance was also on Sunday. Sánchez will now be pitching on regular rest.

This seemed a very unlikely outcome for Walker after Ketel Marte homered to start the game and Corbin Carroll came around to score after a walk. Walker, though, allowed only two hits and one walk over the remaining four innings and finished with six strikeouts. He’s now 1-2 with a 7.36 ERA. It’s unclear if he’ll get any additional starts in the near future, as the Phillies won’t need him before Thursday’s off day and then could get Zack Wheeler back afterwards.

Walker gave up three homers in the contest, two of them to former Phillies legend Mickey Moniak. There’s no sarcasm font. Walker also scuffled in his start against the Nationals, and what seemed like a soft launch on paper has been a disappointing beginning of the season for the 33-year-old. He’ll try and right the ship against Arizona over the weekend.

Walker gave up 10 hits despite allowing just five hard-hit balls. Even more incredible is that three of those were outs; the Nats were 7-for-11 with a sac fly on their softer contact. Still, this is the kind of thing that’s going to happen from time to time when you can’t miss bats. The poor showing gives Andrew Painter an early edge when it comes to determining who stays in the Philadelphia rotation after Zack Wheeler returns, though we’ll see what Painter can do Tuesday. Walker will face the Rockies in Coors Field on Sunday.

That had been a foregone conclusion for a while now, but is now official. The bigger question will be whether he or Taijuan Walker gets bumped once Zack Wheeler (shoulder) is ready to return. Cristopher Sanchez will work on Opening Day for the Phillies and will be followed by Aaron Nola. Jesus Luzardo, Walker and Painter in that order.

It was a lineup full of bench guys, with Dominic Smith and Ben Gamel being the best hitters the Braves brought. Between this and facing Brazil for Team Mexico last time out, Walker hasn’t really been tested of late. He’ll open up in the Phillies’ rotation, but he’s not at all recommended for fantasy purposes.