The Philadelphia Phillies will rely on pitcher Taijuan Walker as they seek their second consecutive road series victory against the Chicago White Sox in a decisive matchup on Wednesday. Walker, who has been fluctuating between starting and relief roles, senses that his position in the rotation may be precarious, especially with fellow right-hander Aaron Nola expected to begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Thursday.
“I assume that I’ll be the odd man out, which is fine,” Walker stated. “I built a pretty good routine. My job is just to go out there and pitch and get outs.” Currently, Walker holds a record of 3-5 with a 3.84 ERA. His journey this season has seen him start six games from April 3 to May 1 before moving to the bullpen, where he achieved a three-inning save in his next outing.
Since returning to the rotation in late May, Walker has started three consecutive games, though all have resulted in no-decisions. In his last appearance against the New York Yankees on July 21, he allowed three runs from solo home runs but missed a quality start by just one out.
On the opposing mound, Adrian Houser will take the field for the White Sox on Wednesday. Houser has been on a roll since signing a one-year, $1.35 million contract with the White Sox on May 20, posting a 6-2 record with a 2.10 ERA. In his most recent game, he carried a shutout into the seventh inning, ultimately allowing three runs and five hits over 6 2/3 innings against the Chicago Cubs.
Houser’s consistent performance has not only solidified his spot in the rotation but has also sparked interest in trade discussions as the Thursday trade deadline approaches. “Whatever’s in the future is out of my control,” Houser remarked, emphasizing his focus on preparation. “I’m just focused on putting my work in, getting my mechanics, making sure I’m hitting those certain spots in my mechanics.”
The series between the Phillies and the White Sox has been competitive. Chicago won the opener 6-2 on Monday, but the Phillies bounced back with a 6-3 victory on Tuesday, led by two-run homers from Kyle Schwarber and Brandon Marsh. The White Sox managed to rally for three runs in the ninth inning, with Lenyn Sosa contributing a two-run blast. Sosa has been in excellent form, batting .444 (8-for-18) with six RBIs over the past five games.
In terms of historical performance, Walker has faced the White Sox in five career starts, achieving a record of 3-2 with a 3.64 ERA across 29 2/3 innings. Conversely, Houser has made eight appearances against the Phillies, including three starts, with a record of 1-2 and a 3.90 ERA.
As the two teams prepare for their final game of the series, the stakes are high for both pitchers. Walker aims to solidify his role amidst competition, while Houser continues to build on his impressive season. The outcome will not only influence the series but may also have implications for the future of both players as the trade deadline approaches.
