So, here’s a sentence Phillies fans probably didn’t want to read heading into Opening Day: Ranger Suárez is starting the season on the Injured List.
And here’s another one that might not go over well: Taijuan Walker is taking his spot in the rotation.
Manager Rob Thomson made the announcement Sunday, confirming that the Phillies will be without their No. 3 starter when the season begins. Suárez, who had been battling back soreness for most of the month, just isn’t quite ready. The hope had been that he could get through spring without needing an IL stint. But as March rolled on, it became increasingly clear that “day to day” was turning into “week to week.”
The good news? This isn’t expected to be a long-term absence.
The Phillies are optimistic that Suárez will miss only two or three starts. He’s been throwing on the backfields, played catch the last few days, and is expected to throw a bullpen session soon. But as Thomson put it, they want to make sure “this thing is right” before throwing him into the fire.
If all goes to plan, Suárez could be back around Easter weekend when the Phillies return home to face the Marlins. But the reality is, whenever he does return, he likely won’t be fully built up—meaning his first start or two could be of the three- or four-inning variety.
On paper, Suárez’s 2024 season looks solid. He went 12-8 with a 3.46 ERA and posted a career-best 8.66 K/9 rate. But the story of his season was a tale of two halves. He was 10-1 at one point, looking like an All-Star snub and helping the Phillies boast what was arguably the best rotation in baseball. Then came the back issues, the missed time, and an uneven second half.
And now? Same story. Same injury. Not exactly the best start to a contract year.
The Phillies had set up their rotation to give Suárez the longest possible runway before his first start—lining up Zack Wheeler, Jesús Luzardo, Aaron Nola, Cristopher Sánchez, and Suárez as the fifth starter. The idea was that pushing him back to the end of the rotation would buy him enough time to be ready. Turns out, he needs even more time.
That brings us to Taijuan Walker, the guy no one expected to see in the rotation this soon.
Look, Walker’s first season in Philadelphia was a disaster. He finished 2024 with an ERA north of 7.00, saw his velocity dip, and was ultimately demoted to the bullpen. But give him some credit—he looked sharp early in spring training, allowing just four earned runs over his first three starts.
Then came last Wednesday.
Nine hits. Six earned runs. Three home runs. A brutal start against the Yankees that erased a lot of the good vibes he had built up.
So, yeah. Phillies fans might not be too thrilled to see Walker back in the rotation, even if it’s temporary. But for now, he’s getting another shot.
The Phillies, for their part, are holding their breath that Suárez makes a quick return. They need him.
Roster Moves
The club announced Sunday that it had claimed right-handed reliever Carlos Hernández, a hard-throwing right-hander, off waivers from the Kansas City Royals. To make room, they designated Phillips for assignment. Now, if you’re thinking, "Carlos Hernández… where have I heard that name before?" The answer is: probably nowhere recently. But here’s what you need to know:
Hernández, 28, has spent his entire big-league career with the Royals, putting together a 4.95 ERA over five seasons. Last year, though? He actually showed some promise out of the bullpen. A 3.30 ERA in 30 innings. 27 strikeouts. A 97.9 mph fastball that would make most radar guns blush.
At 6-foot-4, 225 pounds, Hernández is a classic power arm. He pairs that heater with a slider, sprinkles in a knuckle curve, and even throws a splitter. So there’s some intrigue here.
As for Tyler Phillips?
Well, you might remember his complete-game shutout last year. Unfortunately, the rest of his season wasn’t quite as memorable. He finished with a 6.87 ERA and a 1.42 WHIP over 36.2 innings. And now? He’s the odd man out.
