The Philadelphia Phillies shared news on struggling starter Taijuan Walker ahead of a matchup against the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday, April 22.
Walker will pitch behind an opener in his upcoming outing, according to multiple reports, including from Charlotte Varnes of The Athletic. Left-hander Kyle Backhus will draw the start ahead of Walker.
The 33-year-old Walker was shelled for seven earned runs over four innings last time out against the Atlanta Braves. He has a 1-3 record and a 9.16 ERA through four starts. The decision to use Walker behind an opener could be a precursor to his removal from the rotation. The Phillies are set to get right-hander Zack Wheeler back this weekend.
Philadelphia Phillies News Update: Taijuan Walker to Pitch Behind Kyle Backhus Against Cubs
Walker earned the fifth spot in the rotation after posting a 1.29 ERA during MLB Spring Training. Wheeler was recovering from offseason surgery, so there was a vacancy on the pitching staff. The Wheeler injury meant that both Walker and top prospect Andrew Painter would begin the year in the big-league rotation. Painter has taken the opportunity and run with it, striking out more than a batter per inning over four solid outings. Walker has gone the other direction.
The 2025 campaign was a step in the right direction for Walker after a brutal 2024. Coming off an ERA over 7.00, the veteran righty performed like a league-average arm over 34 appearances. Walker notched a 4.08 ERA across 123.2 innings last year. The bounce-back effort suggested he might be able to contribute in the final season of the four-year, $72 million contract he signed heading into 2023. Instead, he could land in the bullpen after this week.
Walker has averaged just 92.1 mph on his fastball this year. It’s the second-lowest mark of his career. The righty has a career-low 6.4% swinging-strike rate. Despite the lack of whiffs, Walker has probably been a bit unlucky. He’s ceded a .361 batting average on balls in play, which will likely regress to a lower mark. Walker’s 4.89 xFIP and 4.84 SIERA suggest he hasn’t been as bad as his brutal 9.16 ERA.
Backhus Gets Opportunity to Start
Backhus made the club out of camp as one of four lefties in the bullpen. He came over to the organization from the Arizona Diamondbacks in an offseason trade. The lefty struggled in his first outing of the season, giving up three earned runs while recording only one out against the Texas Rangers. He bounced back with three scoreless games from there. Backhus was sent down in early April, but was soon recalled when the Phillies lost Zach Pop to injury.
After a 7-4 loss on Tuesday, April 21, the Phillies have now dropped seven straight games. Offense has been a big issue during the ugly stretch. Philadelphia has scored just two runs per game across the losing streak. They’ll do battle against left-hander Matthew Boyd tonight. Southpaws have been a challenge for the lineup. The club ranks dead last in wRC+ vs. left-handed pitching this season. Shota Imanaga silenced them over seven innings in the second game of the series.
Phillies Announce Decision on Taijuan Walker Before Cubs Game