3 Phillies on Thin Ice Heading Into Opening Day
By Jovan Alford
2. Taijuan Walker
It’s tough to put Walker on this list, as he’s only been with the Phillies for one season. However, fans weren’t happy with his performance on the mound and wanted them to sign Blake Snell or Jordan Montgomery to replace him in the starting rotation.
The 31-year-old starting pitcher will begin the 2024 regular season on the 15-day IL list due to an impingement in his right shoulder. Therefore, the Phillies will get an up-close look at Spencer Turnbull, who signed a one-year deal with the team in the offseason.
Last season, Walker recorded a career-high 15 wins but had an ERA of 4.38 in 31 games. He posted 138 strikeouts in 172.2 innings but allowed 71 walks (career-high) and 20 home runs.
The Phillies signed Walker to a four-year, $72 million deal last offseason after a solid two-year stint with the New York Mets. Something tells me that Walker will bounce back this season after he returns from the injured list, but the pressure is on him to have quality starts at the back of the starting rotation.