Daily News | The Phillies believe Taijuan Walker can be even better, and it starts with some simple math
signed Taijuan Walker to the fourth-largest contract for pitchers in this winter’s free-agent market, they rooted their decision in scouting, data, and a belief that the 30-year-old right-hander is still improving after a decade in the majors.The Phillies were faced with replacing 288⅓ innings in the starting rotation from last season, 167⅔ of which came from Kyle Gibson. Walker and Gibson were among the 31 pitchers who logged at least 150 innings in each of the last two seasons.
But opposing hitters combined to slug .420 against Walker the third time through the order last season compared to .395 earlier in games. The most extreme example of those struggles came in the seventh inning of a Sept. 21 game in Milwaukee, when Walker gave up a leadoff walk and back-to-back singles before being lifted from what turned into a five-run inning.
“On our end, that’s helping him protect those blind spots and how can we get him to maybe pitch an inning more a game here and there.”John Middleton is going for it all with the Phillies, and he’s spending like he means it In Wheeler’s case, the Phillies were correct. Over the last three seasons, Wheeler has a 2.82 ERA and 463 strikeouts. He ranks sixth among all pitchers with 437⅓ innings and has a 149 ERA+, meaning he has been 49% better than league average.This time around, the Phillies considered other mid-rotation free-agent options, especially Jameson Taillon, who signed a four-year, $68 million deal with the Cubs.
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