The Philadelphia Phillies need to do something about this.
The Philadelphia Phillies just took two out of three from the Colorado Rockies over the weekend and now sit 5-4 on the season overall.
While it's not a terrible start, it's certainly not the way the Phillies wanted to begin the season, and it's pretty clear they have a weak link that must be addressed.
That weak link is starting pitcher Taijuan Walker.
Yes, Walker is a No. 5 starter, and he will likely be moved to the bullpen once Zack Wheeler returns, but can Philadelphia even afford to keep trotting the former All-Star out there at this point?
The Phillies' last two series wins came over the Washington Nationals and then the Rockies. Both teams are among baseball's worst, and Philadelphia dropped a game in both sets. Guess who was pitching in both of those contests? Yes: Walker.
Walker did manage to go five innings against Colorado on Easter Sunday, which is exactly what you want out of your fifth starter. But he surrendered four runs and three home runs on the afternoon in what ended up being a 4-1 loss.
Yes, some run support would have been nice, but when you give up three long balls, you're asking for trouble.
Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Taijuan Walker. Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images.Walker was also shelled by the Nationals to the tune of seven runs — six earned — in 4.2 innings in his first start. He didn't allow any homers in that game, but he was shelled for 10 hits and walked three.
The 33-year-old owns an unsightly 9.31 ERA thus far, and while it's still very early, it's important to remember that Walker possesses a 4.99 ERA ever since joining the Phillies back in 2023.
Perhaps Walker will slowly revert back to his 2025 form, when he posted a very respectable 4.08 ERA across 34 appearances and 21 starts, but he also tallied a 7.10 ERA the season prior. So which version of Walker are the Phillies getting?
There are numerous things wrong with Philadelphia in the early stages of 2026, and its inconsistent offense has actually been the biggest source of contention.
But we also cannot ignore the fact that sending Walker to the mound right now is basically inviting a loss, and it's something the Phillies may have to rectify immediately.
Whether that means going with a bullpen game or finding another arm to fill that role is the question, but Philadelphia cannot continue to give away games, even if it's only April.
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