Phillies to make change to Taijuan Walker’s pregame routine amid first inning struggles

PHILADELPHIA — Starter Taijuan Walker is scheduled to pitch in the series opener on Friday night at Citizens Bank Park against the Atlanta Braves. There will not be an opener for Walker, who is prone to struggling in the first inning.

Walker has allowed 12 earned runs this season, nine of those have come in the first frame. Since signing with the Phillies in 2023, Walker has allowed the most earned runs in the first inning among all major league starters.

The Phillies considered using an opener for Walker and simulating a first inning in the bullpen. They will instead make tweaks to his routine in the weight room pregame in hopes of better results.

“Still working through it, but as of right now, he would start the game,” manager Rob Thomson said pregame Wednesday

Walker rebounded after allowing two earned runs in the first inning of his last outing against the Diamondbacks on Saturday. He allowed only two hits in the remaining four innings to earn his first win of the season.

It’s unclear if Walker will move to the bullpen once Zack Wheeler (right shoulder surgery) is back. With an upcoming stretch of 13 straight games without an off day beginning on April 28, the club could consider going to a six-man rotation when Wheeler returns.

Wheeler will make at least one more rehab start on Sunday for Double-A Reading. The Phillies have enough time on the 30-day rehab assignment clock for Wheeler to make one more rehab start. If another rehab start is deemed unnecessary, Wheeler will likely make his season debut with the Phillies during the upcoming roadtrip to Chicago and Atlanta next week.

Wheeler is scheduled to throw around 90 pitches on Sunday against the Somerset Patriots.