On June 23, the Phillies placed Taijuan Walker on the 15-day injury list for the second time this season. The cause of this was determined to be right index finger irritation, which made it extremely difficult for him to execute his task properly.
In his most recent start, he was pulled and diagnosed with the issue, and his fastball was recorded at a season-low 90.5 mph.
The Phillies have not given a firm date for Walker’s comeback.
The team has placed him on the 15-day disabled list to enable for recuperation and prevent worsening the condition any more. Walker will take a little break and forgo throwing his splitter as he continues to rehab and rebuild.
According to MLB.com, Walker’s time on the IL is entirely dependent on his ability to reestablish his effectiveness with his splitter, which is perhaps his strongest weapon when thrown properly.
Walker’s season has been plagued by injuries and inconsistencies, and he has been unable to pitch to his full potential. In 10 starts this year, he has a 5.60 ERA, 1.49 WHIP, and 2.04 K/BB in 53 innings. Walker had an amazing career record before this season, with a 4.04 ERA and a 1.25 WHIP in 1123.2 innings.
When healthy, Walker has shown to be a consistent fourth or fifth starter on a competitive club. Assuming he can regain control of his splitter and subsequently increase his overall pitch velocity, the Phillies might rely on him to help win games and save the bullpen for crucial innings in September and October.
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