2025 Taijuan Walker is the Worst Good Pitcher I've Ever Seen

I know most people will not agree with me when I call Taijuan Walker a "good pitcher," but it's absolutely true. At the same time, if I didn't have the numbers in front of me, I'd be right there with you. Somehow, Walker has managed to have some really solid starts this season in the most frustrating way possible.

Taijuan Walker has started 13 games for the Phillies this season. In his first 5 starts, he recorded 28.1 innings pitched, 22 strikeouts, and allowed just 8 earned runs, giving himself a 2.54 ERA before he was moved to the bullpen. When he returned to the rotation for two starts, he allowed 7 earned runs over 9 innings - not ideal. Back to the bullpen.

He's since been thrust back into the rotation and he's been quite impressive - 24.2 IP, 14 strikeouts, 9 earned runs, and a 3.28 ERA. Taijuan Walker? Impressive? It certainly hasn't felt that way. Let's take last night's 5-0 win over the Orioles, for example.

Walker allowed just 4 hits, but 2 of them came in an at-bat that started 0-2, and 3 of them came with two outs. It's Walker's inability to really shut down an offense, coupled with his struggles in previous years that make the entire experience incredibly unenjoyable for the fan. Every time you think he's going to have a quick inning, he somehow messes it up and leaves you throwing your hands in the air, saying, "Can this guy do anything right?"

But, actually, he can. And he has. He's not a guy I want to rely on in October - and the Phillies won't - but he's provided them with some really good starts when they've needed them. Early in the season, it was a Ranger Suarez injury that required him to step up. Now, it's been Aaron Nola prolonged stay on the injured list and Mick Abel's struggles (who of course, is now a Minnesota Twin) that caused them to really need another arm. Walker has provided them with that, and for all the crap we gave him last year - which he deserved - he deserves some credit this year.