PHILADELPHIA — A day after allowing 17 runs, the Phillies rearranged their rotation and bullpen Sunday morning as they attempt to solve some festering pitching problems from within.
The Phillies will shift Taijuan Walker to a one-inning setup role for the first time in his 13-year career while reinserting prospect Mick Abel into the rotation. Additionally, they removed veteran righty José Ruiz from the mix by designating him for assignment and added hard-throwing Seth Johnson to the bullpen.
Advertisement
There could be a time for larger changes closer to the July 31 trade deadline. But, for now, the Phillies will pull some internal levers and see what happens.
More than anything, the bullpen needed a boost.
“Yeah, I think so,” Phillies manager Rob Thomson said. “I have a lot of confidence in all those guys. But I think Tai’s got a chance to make us a lot better coming out of the pen.”
Abel, 23, impressed the Phillies with his stellar big-league debut last month. He’ll have at least two starts in the majors — Thursday at the Toronto Blue Jays, then at home against the Chicago Cubs — while Aaron Nola continues his recovery from a sprained right ankle. The Phillies expect him back sometime in mid-June.
Whenever Walker has pitched from the bullpen, he’s been a long man. The Phillies envision him filling a more crucial role this time. They were intrigued by his two bullpen appearances in early May before he had to step back into the rotation to replace Nola. It will require significant adjustments, as Walker is used to a set routine. He’s never pitched on back-to-back days.
He’ll have to be eased into this role. Whether it works — Walker has never been a guy with huge swing-and-miss stuff — remains to be seen.
“He’s a pro,” Thomson said. “He really is. I’m sure he’s not 100 percent happy. I think he still thinks of himself as a starter. But he’s a pro. And I think that he’s a guy that’ll do anything to help the team.”
Walker sounded willing to make the move after his last start.
“If I have one inning to blow it out, whatever it is, I feel like my stuff would play up just a little bit more,” Walker said last week. “Knowing that I got one inning, just let it eat.”
Ruiz, 30, spent 13 months with the Phillies after joining them on a minor-league contract in November 2023. He was a solid middle reliever in 2024 who gained more trust later in the season but struggled in higher-leverage spots. The Phillies tendered him a contract through salary arbitration; Ruiz is making $1.23 million in 2025. He had an 8.16 ERA in 14 1/3 innings this season with 21 hits allowed. If he clears waivers, Ruiz can refuse an assignment to the minors, elect free agency and retain his salary.
Advertisement
The Phillies could have demoted Max Lazar or plucked Carlos Hernández from the roster. But Ruiz has not been effective for months; Hernández throws harder, so the Phillies will keep trying Hernández over Ruiz.
“All the other guys are just pitching a little bit better,” Thomson said. “That’s all.”
(Photo: Justin Edmonds / Getty Images)
This news was originally published on this post .
About the author
Do Prahy se řítí Véghova životní forma. Trénoval tvrději než Vémola, zní ze Slovenska
39letého Végha může rovněž těšit, že několikaměsíční příprava proběhla bez větších komplikací. O to působivější je jeho tělesná proměna, nad níž mnozí fanoušci spekulují. Figura jednoho z nejlepších slovenských ranařů se proměnila nevídaným způsobem, a tak na Vémolu v Edenu vyrukuje Véghova vylepšená verze. „Attila je nabroušený, naostřený,“ mne si ruce také Škondrič, člen Síně slávy Oktagonu.Do turnaje zbývají čtyři dny. Předpokládám, že ostré tréninky má Attila už za sebou, viďte?Přesně tak. Už se to ani nedá nazývat tréninkem, ale spíše takovým hraním si s tělem, aby v něm nespala krev. Je to o tom, aby se člověk udržel v pohotovosti a byl rozhýbaný.Můžete prozradit, jak se Attilovi daří hubnout do váhového limitu pro polotěžkou váhu (93 kg)?Tentokrát si budeme trochu hrát s vodou a nebude to úplně přirozené hubnutí. Attila to bude trochu stahovat a pak to vracet zpátky, aby v zápase byl také těžký. Je potřeba říct, že teď má kolem sebe […]
Key takeaways from F1’s 2026 schedule: Streamlined start, a ratings test and a punishing close
The 2025 Formula One season hasn’t even reached its halfway point yet, but the schedule for next year’s campaign was released Tuesday, with a few notable changes as F1 works to regionalize the schedule and make progress toward its net-zero carbon goals.We’ll still have 24 grand prix weekends, with Australia opening the calendar and the season finale taking place at Abu Dhabi once again. But there are changes, like the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix officially falling off the slate and Madrid’s new circuit making its debut. Having two Spanish races meant that Barcelona and Madrid needed to be spaced out, with the well-known testing circuit near the start of the European stretch, while the newer track will end that portion of the calendar.AdvertisementThe Canadian Grand Prix is also moving from its June slot to May, a few weeks after the Miami […]
F1 reveals 2026 schedule: Canadian GP to clash with Indy 500; Madrid debuts in September
Formula One has revealed its calendar for the 2026 season, featuring a record-tying 24 races, three visits to the United States and a new grand prix in Madrid in September.But F1 will also go head-to-head with the Indianapolis 500 next year after moving the Canadian Grand Prix to May 24, setting up a direct clash between the two races on Memorial Day weekend.AdvertisementThe 2026 calendar was revealed after the FIA’s World Motor Sport Council approved the schedule during its latest meeting in Macau on Tuesday.F1 has taken steps in recent years to better regionalize its calendar, aiming to reduce its carbon footprint and meet its net-zero goal by 2030. The latest efforts include Canada’s shift to late May from its traditional mid-June slot. It will take place three weeks after the Miami Grand Prix, pairing the first two North American […]
Kolumne „Meine Bayern“ – Kompany muss diesen Star wieder in die Spur bringen
„Meine Bayern“ heißt die Kolumne von SPORT BILD-Reporter-Legende Raimund Hinko, die sich mit dem deutschen Rekordmeister befasst. Hinko begleitet den FC Bayern seit Jahrzehnten.Lieber Vincent Kompany,schade, dass Du schon wieder urlaubsreif bist nach ein paar Tagen. Ich könnte mir sogar verstellen, dass Du in einem Wutanfall den Fernseher aus dem Fenster geworfen hast. Denn kaum hast Du ein paar Minuten des Länderspiels der Deutschen gegen Portugal gesehen, dachtest Du, da stünden doch glatt Dayot Upamecano und Min-jae Kim auf dem Platz.Doch nein! Es war Jonathan Tah, der plötzlich dieselben Aussetzer hatte wie der Franzose und der Südkoreaner. Die Tinte war noch nicht trocken auf seinem Vertrag, den der große Mann aus Leverkusen unterschrieben hatte, und schon schien er vom Abwehr-Virus des FC Bayern befallen. So ein Mist. Am Sonntag bei der zweiten Niederlage gegen Frankreich (0:2) sah es auch kaum […]
Did Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift get married in secret? Rumors explode after wedding invitation leaked
A small detail at an NFL wedding has ignited huge buzz around Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift - fans are now wondering if the world's most talked-about couple might already be married in secret. The incident began with a seemingly innocuous envelope at Chicago Bears player Cole Kmet's June 7 wedding, but its implications quickly snowballed.Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce share sweet wedding moment as fans can't get enough of their romanceWedding planner Ellie Nottoli shared moments after the event, revealing envelopes placed at each guest's seat. On one, elegantly penned in calligraphy, were the names "Taylor and Travis Kelce," assigned to Table 13 - Swift's personal lucky number. The image has since fueled widespread speculation that Kelce and Swift may have tied the knot without public notice, setting social media ablaze.Despite the excitement, there's no indication the couple actually […]
Com Soteldo, Fluminense ultrapassa limite permitido de estrangeiros no Brasileirão; entenda
Desde o ano passado, a CBF permite, no máximo, que nove atletas de fora do Brasil sejam relacionados a cada partida da competição nacional. Já a Conmebol não adota restrições desse tipo na Sul-Americana ou Libertadores. Por se tratar de um torneio internacional, a Fifa segue a mesma linha da entidade sul-americana na Copa do Mundo de Clubes. Apesar do tricolor ter uma "legião de gringos", Soteldo é o único representante da Venezuela no elenco. Colômbia (Kevin Serna, Jhon Arias e Gabriel Fuentes) e Uruguai (Facundo Bernal, Joaquin Lavega e Canobbio) formam seus trios. Enquanto Argentina (Juan Freytes e Germán Cano) e Paraguai (Rubén Lezcano) aparecem na sequência. Veja lista de estrangeiros
Related
Do Prahy se řítí Véghova životní forma. Trénoval tvrději než Vémola, zní ze Slovenska
39letého Végha může rovněž těšit, že několikaměsíční příprava proběhla bez větších komplikací. O to působivější je jeho tělesná proměna, nad níž mnozí fanoušci spekulují. Figura jednoho z nejlepších slovenských ranařů se proměnila nevídaným způsobem, a tak na Vémolu v Edenu vyrukuje Véghova vylepšená verze. „Attila je nabroušený, naostřený,“ mne si ruce také Škondrič, člen Síně slávy Oktagonu.Do turnaje zbývají čtyři dny. Předpokládám, že ostré tréninky má Attila už za sebou, viďte?Přesně tak. Už se to ani nedá nazývat tréninkem, ale spíše takovým hraním si s tělem, aby v něm nespala krev. Je to o tom, aby se člověk udržel v pohotovosti a byl rozhýbaný.Můžete prozradit, jak se Attilovi daří hubnout do váhového limitu pro polotěžkou váhu (93 kg)?Tentokrát si budeme trochu hrát s vodou a nebude to úplně přirozené hubnutí. Attila to bude trochu stahovat a pak to vracet zpátky, aby v zápase byl také těžký. Je potřeba říct, že teď má kolem sebe […]
Key takeaways from F1’s 2026 schedule: Streamlined start, a ratings test and a punishing close
The 2025 Formula One season hasn’t even reached its halfway point yet, but the schedule for next year’s campaign was released Tuesday, with a few notable changes as F1 works to regionalize the schedule and make progress toward its net-zero carbon goals.We’ll still have 24 grand prix weekends, with Australia opening the calendar and the season finale taking place at Abu Dhabi once again. But there are changes, like the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix officially falling off the slate and Madrid’s new circuit making its debut. Having two Spanish races meant that Barcelona and Madrid needed to be spaced out, with the well-known testing circuit near the start of the European stretch, while the newer track will end that portion of the calendar.AdvertisementThe Canadian Grand Prix is also moving from its June slot to May, a few weeks after the Miami […]
F1 reveals 2026 schedule: Canadian GP to clash with Indy 500; Madrid debuts in September
Formula One has revealed its calendar for the 2026 season, featuring a record-tying 24 races, three visits to the United States and a new grand prix in Madrid in September.But F1 will also go head-to-head with the Indianapolis 500 next year after moving the Canadian Grand Prix to May 24, setting up a direct clash between the two races on Memorial Day weekend.AdvertisementThe 2026 calendar was revealed after the FIA’s World Motor Sport Council approved the schedule during its latest meeting in Macau on Tuesday.F1 has taken steps in recent years to better regionalize its calendar, aiming to reduce its carbon footprint and meet its net-zero goal by 2030. The latest efforts include Canada’s shift to late May from its traditional mid-June slot. It will take place three weeks after the Miami Grand Prix, pairing the first two North American […]
Kolumne „Meine Bayern“ – Kompany muss diesen Star wieder in die Spur bringen
„Meine Bayern“ heißt die Kolumne von SPORT BILD-Reporter-Legende Raimund Hinko, die sich mit dem deutschen Rekordmeister befasst. Hinko begleitet den FC Bayern seit Jahrzehnten.Lieber Vincent Kompany,schade, dass Du schon wieder urlaubsreif bist nach ein paar Tagen. Ich könnte mir sogar verstellen, dass Du in einem Wutanfall den Fernseher aus dem Fenster geworfen hast. Denn kaum hast Du ein paar Minuten des Länderspiels der Deutschen gegen Portugal gesehen, dachtest Du, da stünden doch glatt Dayot Upamecano und Min-jae Kim auf dem Platz.Doch nein! Es war Jonathan Tah, der plötzlich dieselben Aussetzer hatte wie der Franzose und der Südkoreaner. Die Tinte war noch nicht trocken auf seinem Vertrag, den der große Mann aus Leverkusen unterschrieben hatte, und schon schien er vom Abwehr-Virus des FC Bayern befallen. So ein Mist. Am Sonntag bei der zweiten Niederlage gegen Frankreich (0:2) sah es auch kaum […]
Did Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift get married in secret? Rumors explode after wedding invitation leaked
A small detail at an NFL wedding has ignited huge buzz around Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift - fans are now wondering if the world's most talked-about couple might already be married in secret. The incident began with a seemingly innocuous envelope at Chicago Bears player Cole Kmet's June 7 wedding, but its implications quickly snowballed.Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce share sweet wedding moment as fans can't get enough of their romanceWedding planner Ellie Nottoli shared moments after the event, revealing envelopes placed at each guest's seat. On one, elegantly penned in calligraphy, were the names "Taylor and Travis Kelce," assigned to Table 13 - Swift's personal lucky number. The image has since fueled widespread speculation that Kelce and Swift may have tied the knot without public notice, setting social media ablaze.Despite the excitement, there's no indication the couple actually […]
Com Soteldo, Fluminense ultrapassa limite permitido de estrangeiros no Brasileirão; entenda
Desde o ano passado, a CBF permite, no máximo, que nove atletas de fora do Brasil sejam relacionados a cada partida da competição nacional. Já a Conmebol não adota restrições desse tipo na Sul-Americana ou Libertadores. Por se tratar de um torneio internacional, a Fifa segue a mesma linha da entidade sul-americana na Copa do Mundo de Clubes. Apesar do tricolor ter uma "legião de gringos", Soteldo é o único representante da Venezuela no elenco. Colômbia (Kevin Serna, Jhon Arias e Gabriel Fuentes) e Uruguai (Facundo Bernal, Joaquin Lavega e Canobbio) formam seus trios. Enquanto Argentina (Juan Freytes e Germán Cano) e Paraguai (Rubén Lezcano) aparecem na sequência. Veja lista de estrangeiros
Be the first to leave a comment