The Phillies began the season shorthanded, with starting pitcher Taijuan Walker (right shoulder) and reliever pitcher Orion Kerkering (right forearm) on the 15-day injured list. According to the latest details on Kerkering’s minor league rehab trip, the Phillies could activate him as early as this weekend. Walker’s status and timeline had been uncertain until now.
Walker’s spring training was a complete train wreck. At the start of camp, the right-hander was hampered by knee pain and then diagnosed with a right shoulder impingement after being shut down due to ineffectiveness and a significant decline in velocity. According to Scott Lauber of The Philadelphia Inquirer, Walker’s rehab assignment at Triple-A Lehigh Valley was scheduled to begin on Thursday.
Due to the bad conditions, Walker was sent to Clearwater and pitched for the Threshers, with mixed success. In a four-inning outing against Low-A hitters, the results were less than desirable. Walker allowed two hits and two earned runs over four innings, striking out four and walking none.
Lauber’s assertion that Walker will make four rehab starts makes reasonable, given that he was already weeks behind other starting pitchers in camp before being pulled down in late March. The Phillies hope Walker’s arm strength improves during these rehab starts and he regains his velocity over the following several weeks. Walker’s fastball dropped from 94-96 mph to 92 mph in two brief appearances during spring training, a significant decrease from his standard.
Walker is scheduled to make four minor league rehab appearances, so it is reasonable to expect him to be activated in two to three weeks, possibly in early May, assuming no further injuries or setbacks. Will the contentious starter get a spot in the rotation when he returns?
Spencer Turnbull’s red-hot start has created a good problem for the Phillies
When the Phillies placed Walker on the injured list at the start of the season, it was expected that he would complete a rehab assignment before returning to the starting rotation when he was first eligible to be reinstated. Spencer Turnbull’s performance in his first two starts with the Phillies surprised both the general office and most fans.
Turnbull has been a revelation since taking up Walker’s rotation spot earlier this season. The Phillies signed the 31-year-old to a minor league contract this winter after the Detroit Tigers released him. During his final four seasons in Detroit, he struggled with injuries and ineffectiveness.
Turnbull’s signing generated minimal attention when it was first announced in February, with many dismissing it as Dave Dombrowski’s attempt to find starting pitching depth at bargain cellar costs.
Turnbull and Dombrowski may have reversed that narrative after two spectacular starts. Turnbull has exceeded all expectations two weeks into the season. The righty is 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA, 13 strikeouts, and has only allowed one walk and five hits in his outings. Turnbull should be 2-0 after throwing six scoreless innings and surrendering just two hits on Monday. However, the Phillies’ bullpen collapsed in a 5-3 extra-innings triumph over the St. Louis Cardinals.
In an interview with reporters, manager Rob Thomson indicated that Turnbull may become a permanent member of the starting rotation.
“Sure. “I mean, if he keeps putting up zeros, it’s difficult to take him out of the rotation,” Thomson said Thursday afternoon, according to NBC Sports Philadelphia’s Paul Hagen. “But, we’ll see.”
What will Taijuan Walker’s role be when he returns from the IL?
What does this signify for Walker’s future in the Phillies’ rotation?
Assuming Walker’s recovery goes well, Thomson and pitching coach Caleb Cotham will face an interesting dilemma when he returns. Turnbull is certain to receive at least three more starts throughout this time period. If he continues to throw at this level of domination, the Phillies would be unwise to remove him from the starting rotation.
Two scenarios are likely.
One alternative is for Turnbull to take up the rotation place, with Walker moving to the bullpen as a long man or spot starter.
Or they could try something more fascinating. During Monday’s game, Phillies NBC play-by-play announcer Tom McCarthy speculated that Turnbull and Walker could piggyback in a role that would see each earn significant innings, with one following the other.
Whatever the Phillies decide, having six viable starters competing for innings is an issue that many MLB teams would gladly take right now, given the recent spate of elbow ailments.
