Taijuan

Walker

Walker allowed two runs in the first, but pitched well from that point on. The 33-year-old piggybacked with Walker Buehler, and unfortunately that meant no win chance for the right-hander. Walker seems likely to piggyback with Buehler again next week; probably against the Marlins on Thursday.

Piggyback fever is sweeping the nation. The Phillies become the latest organization to take the plunge with the Walker/Buehler tandem — seriously, you can’t make this stuff up — enabling the club to set up their rotation by having Aaron Nola and Ranger Suárez face the Diamondbacks this weekend, which puts Cristopher Sánchez on track to start Game 1 of the NLDS.

The Phillies were down 4-3 when Walker threw his final pitch, but they took a two-run lead in the bottom of the fifth and held on to it from there. It’s Walker’s fifth win to go along with eight losses. He’s 2-3 with a 4.62 ERA in 12 starts since returning to the Phillies rotation in July. If he starts next weekend, it’ll be against the Diamondbacks. The Phillies, though, could changes things up a bit with off days next Thursday and the following Monday.

Walker allowed eight hits, walked two and struck out one. The 33-year-old right-hander has allowed at least four runs in his last three starts. Walker has a 4.03 ERA and 76/36 K/BB ratio in 111 2/3 innings this year. He’s lined up to face the Royals at home next weekend.

Walker gave up two homers among his seven hits allowed, and he struck out just two against two walks. Thankfully for him/fantasy managers who used Walker — whether they should have or not — the Phillies’ offense did enough to keep Walker from picking up the loss. The 33-year-old right-hander will look to bounce back against the Marlins on Sunday, and he still possesses a respectable 3.97 ERA despite giving up nine runs over his last nine innings.

Walker allowed hard-hit ball after hard-hit ball here. The 10 hits are the most he’s allowed all season and he was fortunate not to allow more runs. That good luck mostly came in the form of some poorly timed and executed bunts by the Mets and a beautiful throw by Harrison Bader to nail Francisco Lindor at second base before what became a rally in the fifth inning. He’s scheduled for a two-start week coming up against the Brewers and Marlins with both on the road.

Things looked like it could’ve gotten ugly for Walker early in this one when Riley Adams took him deep for a three-run homer as the fourth batter of the game. Yet, he settled in well after that to only allow one more walk and hit each over the next and final 15 batters he faced. He located his cutter well on the outer half against left-handed batters to force some ugly swings and weak contact. He’s now made eight starts since returning to the rotation from the bullpen and surprisingly hasn’t given up more than three earned runs in any of them. He’ll take a 3.44 ERA into his next scheduled start against the Mets on the road.

Walker stranded three baserunners through four scoreless innings before giving up a two-run double to James Wood in the fifth. He’d tossed a scoreless sixth and record the first two outs in the seventh before giving up a base hit that would end his day at 94 pitches with three strikeouts. The 33-year-old right-hander will take a 3.34 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, and a 65/28 K/BB ratio across 91 2/3 innings into a rematch against the Nationals in Philadelphia on Saturday.

Nola last started in the majors three months ago today before going down with an ankle injury and later missing time with side soreness. The Phillies will use a six-man rotation to accommodate him, leaving room for Taijuan Walker. Ranger Suárez, who could have pitched on normal rest Sunday, will now face the Mariners on Monday.

Walker gave up one double and five singles in a second straight excellent six-inning performance. Since returning to the rotation in early July, he has a 2.94 ERA in six turns, though he’s struck out just 16 over 30 2/3 innings. He’s still not recommended in mixed leagues, but he’s giving the Phillies reason to think about going to a six-man rotation with Aaron Nola returning. He’ll probably face the Nationals this weekend.