Taijuan Walker Ready to Begin Rehab Assignment – ​​NBC Sports Philadelphia

Taijuan Walker is ready to begin a rehab assignment.

Walker has been sidelined since June 22 with a blister on his right hand. He will make his first start Wednesday as he rehabs for Double-A Reading, manager Rob Thomson said ahead of the team’s season opener against the Yankees.

The plan is for Walker to pitch into the third or fourth inning on Wednesday, depending on how efficient he is.

The following Tuesday, August 6, Walker moves to Triple-A Lehigh Valley for a second rehab start.

If all goes well in those two games, Walker could potentially rejoin the Phillies when they return from a 10-game trip to the West Coast on Aug. 13.

“We didn’t rush him because we’re short on pitchers,” Thomson said, referring to Ranger Suarez (lower back spasms) and Spencer Turnbull (lats) who are also on the injured list.

“He feels great. He says he feels like his body is moving freely, his arm is moving better than it has all year. Probably better than last year. It’s a really good sign.”

Without Walker and Suarez, the Phillies will use Tyler Phillips and Kolby Allard in the rotation. Phillips has pitched brilliantly in 25 innings, going 3-0 with a 1.80 ERA and only 19 men on base. He will continue to start until both Walker and Suarez return.

Allard will make at least one more start in Seattle later this week. The left-handed pitcher allowed three runs in four innings to the Guardians on Sunday, serving up a three-run homer to Jhonkensy Noel in the fourth inning after opening with three scoreless.

The Phillies begin a three-game series against the Yankees on Monday night and have their top three starters in Zack Wheeler, Aaron Nola and Cristopher Sanchez. The Yankees start right-handers Luis Gil and Gerrit Cole, with Nestor Cortes pitching the final game of the series on Wednesday if the left-handed pitcher who has been involved in trade rumors is not traded first.