When the Phillies travel to San Diego on Sunday, injured starting pitcher Taijuan Walker will return to the lineup, Phillies manager Rob Thomson informed the media, including MLB.com.
It’s a calculated move. Walker, a right-hander, will take the mound on Sunday against the Padres in an attempt to split the two left-handers in the rotation who are coming up after him: Ranger Suárez and Cristopher Sánchez.
Suárez will pitch on Saturday, while Sánchez will pitch on Monday, according to this schedule.
Sunday marked Walker’s third rehab start with Lehigh Valley, a performance that virtually assured him of being ready for the Majors. In 6.1 innings of work, he gave up three walks, four earned runs, and seven hits. He had one strikeout as well.
With a 1-0 record and a 4.50 ERA through three rehab starts, he has now pitched 11 innings.
Walker told reporters last week that he didn’t think he needed a third rehab start in order to feel ready to return to the rotation. The Phillies requested that he toss one more rehab start before making a comeback to the team after he showed off a bullpen on Friday at Citizens Bank Park.
The Phillies will need to make a roster move to make way for Walker when he returns. Spencer Turnbull, who replaced him in the rotation, would probably be moved to the bullpen, as they have already hinted.
Walker was supposed to make four rehab starts for Philadelphia, increasing his pitch count by 15 at a time until he hit 100. If that had happened, he would have been expected back in early May. However, the 31-year-old has advanced more quickly than anticipated.
Walker, an 11-year veteran, made 31 starts last season and finished 15-6 with a 4.38 ERA in his debut season with the Phillies. In 172.2 innings, he walked 71 and struck out 138, the last of which was a career-high.
