The Philadelphia Phillies welcomed back left-hander Cristopher Sánchez on Wednesday, who showed no signs of the forearm tightness that forced him out early on April 22. Pitching five solid innings in a 7-2 win over the Nationals, Sánchez earned his third win of the year and reassured the team about his health.
With Ranger Suárez also set to make his season debut on Sunday, the Phillies suddenly find themselves with six viable starting pitchers for just five rotation slots. What once seemed like an obvious decision to move on from Taijuan Walker is no longer so clear-cut. Despite being a potential roster casualty during spring training, Walker’s solid performance across six starts this season has forced the team to reconsider.
Now, manager Rob Thomson faces a tough call. While some reports suggest the team may adopt a six-man rotation to manage workloads, others — including The Athletic’s Matt Gelb — speculate that Walker might be shifted to the bullpen.
Regardless of how things unfold, Walker’s role on the roster is no longer in question — a surprising twist given how uncertain his future looked just weeks ago. His 2.54 ERA and 1.34 WHIP over 28 1/3 innings suggest a pitcher who has successfully adjusted and become reliable again, despite early doubts and diminished velocity.
Even though skepticism among fans remains, Walker has managed to consistently deliver quality starts, making the decision about his future even more complex. A six-man rotation might ease the burden on the starting staff, but could disrupt routines for starters like Zack Wheeler, who thrives on a five-day schedule.
If Walker is moved to the bullpen, it could mean sending down reliable relievers like Tanner Banks or Orion Kerkering, or even cutting spring waiver pickup Carlos Hernández. There’s also a chance the Phillies explore a trade, using Walker’s recent resurgence to find a deal with a pitching-needy team while shedding some salary.
Another possibility is that Walker stays in the rotation temporarily, giving the Phillies flexibility as they monitor Suárez’s return and the progress of top prospect Andrew Painter. However things play out, a decision on Walker’s place with the team could come as early as this weekend.
