The Philadelphia Phillies welcomed back veteran right-hander Taijuan Walker on Tuesday after he had been on the injured list since June 22 due to inflammation in his right index finger. Walker is set to start Tuesday’s home game against the Miami Marlins. In a corresponding move, the Phillies optioned right-hander Yunior Marte to Triple-A.
This season, Walker, who celebrated his 32nd birthday on Tuesday, has struggled with a 5.60 ERA (73 ERA+) and a 5.80 FIP in 10 starts. In 2023, Walker had a 98 ERA+ in 31 starts. The hope is that Walker will regain his form now that he is healthy and free from the issues that were affecting his performance. He has made adjustments to his splitter grip to prevent blister problems and improve his command of the pitch. The Marlins, who have one of the weakest offenses in the league, should provide a favorable matchup for Walker in his return.
Despite Walker’s return, the Phillies have been struggling recently, slipping half a game behind the Los Angeles Dodgers in the race for the top overall seed in the National League. They have lost three games in a row coming into the two-game series with Miami. In August, the Phillies have gone 4-6 and are 14-20 since the start of July, falling from their high-water mark of 29 games over .500.
However, the Phillies can find some comfort in the fact that the Atlanta Braves, their main competitors in the NL East, have also been struggling. The Phillies are currently seven games ahead of the Braves, with SportsLine giving them a 93.1% chance of breaking Atlanta’s streak of six straight division titles. The top two seeds in each league get a first-round bye in the playoffs, and the Phillies are in danger of losing that advantage to the Milwaukee Brewers, who are just two games behind them.
While Walker’s return may not be a game-changer, solid innings from him in the rotation will be beneficial for the Phillies as they aim to improve their performance. The team is in need of all the help they can get as they look to secure their position in the postseason.
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