The Philadelphia Phillies opened the 2025 season short a starting pitcher, as Ranger Suárez landed on the 15-day injured list due to lower back stiffness. After making his first rehab outing on Thursday with Single-A Clearwater, the 2024 NL All-Star could rejoin the big-league roster within the next two weeks, assuming his recovery stays on track.
In the meantime, Taijuan Walker has stepped up unexpectedly in Suárez’s absence, giving the Phillies the flexibility to allow Suárez to gradually rebuild his arm strength without rushing his return.
Initially, when Suárez was sidelined just before Opening Day and Walker was named his replacement in the rotation, many Phillies fans were shocked—and even skeptical—given Walker’s struggles on the mound last season.
Taijuan Walker just did something amazing for the Phillies almost two years in the making
Despite some uncertainty surrounding his future, Walker has looked like a completely different pitcher through his first two starts of the season. Following a no-decision in Wednesday’s 4-3 win over the struggling Atlanta Braves, he achieved a feat he hadn’t reached since 2023.
After picking up his first win of the year with six scoreless innings against the Colorado Rockies on April 9, Walker got another opportunity to showcase his revamped pitch mix in his start against Atlanta. With key Braves hitters like Ronald Acuña Jr. (injured list) and Jurickson Profar (suspension) out of the lineup, Walker held Atlanta off the scoreboard for 4 2/3 innings.
He allowed five hits and struck out five before being replaced by José Ruiz, who finished the inning and preserved Walker’s second straight scoreless outing.
It marks the first time since June 6 and 11 of the 2023 season that Walker has thrown back-to-back scoreless starts. While it remains to be seen if he can sustain this level of performance, his velocity peaked at 93.7 mph, and his sinker, splitter, and cutter were sharp for most of the night. One highlight was an 87.7 mph cutter on the outside corner that froze Braves DH Marcell Ozuna for a strikeout to end the first inning.
With Suárez currently rehabbing in the minors, Walker may have two more starts before the Phillies decide on his long-term role. Though these outings haven’t been dominant by traditional standards, they’ve helped rebuild some trade value after a rough spring where he looked like a possible release candidate.
Walker is still owed nearly $36 million over the next two years from the contract he signed in 2023, making him a tough trade asset. However, if he continues to pitch like this, the Phillies might be able to find a suitor willing to take a chance.
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