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The Philadelphia Phillies have locked in a playoff berth for the fourth straight year thanks in large part to one of the sport’s best starting rotations.
Coming into the season, the Phillies had All-Star candidates Zack Wheeler, Aaron Nola, Cristopher Sanchez and Ranger Suarez returning with Jesus Luzardo added to the mix via trade and top prospect Andrew Painter waiting in the wings. And while their starting staff has been just about as good as advertised, it has taken some hits on the road to the playoffs.
Wheeler has been ruled out for the season, Nola has struggled mightily with command and Painter was never deemed ready for the big leagues. Now the Phillies are facing some questions about which pitchers to include on the playoff roster.
Sanchez would make sense as the Game 1 starter, while Suarez and Luzardo seem most likely to pitch the next two games. Then, between Aaron Nola, Walker Buehler and Taijuan Walker, the picture becomes less clear.
But Eric Moratelli of That Ball’s Outta Here predicted the Phillies would slot Nola in as the fourth starter, while moving Buehler to the bullpen and leaving Walker off of the playoff roster entirely.
“The pitcher that may get the short end of the stick is Taijuan Walker,” Moratelli wrote. “He has pitched fairly well this season, as a member of the starting staff and the relief corps, however, with four starters and Buehler, is there room for another starter who takes a while to get loose?”
That move would be a bit of a surprise as Walker seemed to have found his groove in a slightly diminished role this season. After posting a 7.10 ERA last year, he has a more respectable 4.17 ERA in 31 total games with 20 starts this year.
The decision to ditch Walker before the playoffs would also be a harsh referendum on his $72 million contract. Given that he has one more year with the Phillies at $18 million remaining, the team might want to carry him into the postseason in hopes of building up a better return for next season or perhaps some trade value for the winter.
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