GDT 8/23/24 Philadelphia Phillies (Walker, T) @ Kansas City Royals (Wacha)

[kikutaro]

J.T. Realmuto

Foul (84.4 mph slider)
In play, out(s) (86.2 mph changeup)

J.T. Realmuto grounds out, third baseman Paul DeJong to first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino.

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Philadelphia Phillies	0	0	1	1	0	0	0	2		4	10	1
Kansas City Royals	1	0	5	0	1	0	0			7	12	2

---

Current Batters

Philadelphia Phillies

Hitters	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	K	HR	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS
Kyle Schwarber DH	4	0	0	0	0	3	0	.245	.373	.467	.840
Trea Turner SS	4	0	0	0	0	2	0	.299	.341	.466	.807
Bryce Harper 1B	4	2	2	0	0	0	0	.275	.364	.522	.886
Alec Bohm 3B	4	1	1	0	0	1	0	.295	.348	.472	.820
Nick Castellanos RF	4	0	2	1	0	0	0	.248	.303	.413	.716
Bryson Stott 2B	3	0	1	1	0	1	0	.235	.309	.348	.657
J.T. Realmuto C	4	1	2	0	0	0	0	.256	.316	.389	.705
Brandon Marsh CF	3	0	1	1	0	0	0	.238	.314	.399	.713
Austin Hays LF	3	0	1	0	0	0	0	.258	.310	.394	.704
Taijuan Walker P								.000	.000	.000	.000
Tyler Gilbert P								.000	.000	.000	.000
Max Lazar P								.000	.000	.000	.000
José Alvarado P								.000	.000	.000	.000

Kansas City Royals

Hitters	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	K	HR	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS
Michael Massey 2B	4	1	2	0	0	0	0	.269	.294	.462	.756
Bobby Witt Jr. SS	4	0	1	0	0	1	0	.349	.399	.612	1.011
Vinnie Pasquantino 1B	4	2	2	1	0	0	0	.267	.322	.453	.775
Salvador Perez C	4	1	2	3	0	1	1	.276	.334	.474	.808
MJ Melendez LF	4	1	1	0	0	0	0	.207	.267	.410	.677
Hunter Renfroe RF	2	2	1	2	2	0	1	.238	.312	.401	.713
Adam Frazier DH	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	.215	.291	.300	.591
Freddy Fermin DH	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	.304	.353	.427	.780
Paul DeJong 3B	3	0	2	1	1	1	0	.238	.287	.448	.735
Kyle Isbel CF	4	0	0	0	0	1	0	.233	.286	.379	.665
Michael Wacha P								.000	.000	.000	.000
James McArthur P								.000	.000	.000	.000
Kris Bubic P								.000	.000	.000	.000

Current Pitchers

Philadelphia Phillies

Pitchers	IP	H	R	ER	BB	K	HR	P-K	ERA
Taijuan Walker	3.0	8	6	6	1	2	2	78-47	6.26
Tyler Gilbert	2.0	2	1	1	1	1	0	42-28	4.50
Max Lazar	1.0	1	0	0	0	1	0	18-10	0.00
José Alvarado	1.0	1	0	0	1	0	0	21-10	4.38

Kansas City Royals

Pitchers	IP	H	R	ER	BB	K	HR	P-K	ERA
Michael Wacha	6.0	6	2	2	0	5	0	94-64	3.32
James McArthur	1.0	1	0	0	0	1	0	17-10	4.62
Kris Bubic	1.0	3	2	2	0	1	0	22-14	3.52

[LoneStarPhan]

Bases loaded, one out. They manage two runs without another hit. That's good, but not enough to get back in the game. Need the big hit with RISP.

[owaistabish]

Just cant seem to get that big hit!

[kikutaro]

Maikel Garcia

Pitching Change: Tanner Banks replaces José Alvarado.
Offensive Substitution: Pinch-hitter Maikel Garcia replaces Michael Massey.
Ball (86.5 mph slider)
Ball (88.2 mph slider)
Called strike (91.4 mph sinker)
Called strike (93.5 mph four-seam fastball)
Ball (93.3 mph four-seam fastball)
Batter Timeout.
In play, out(s) (88.3 mph slider)

Maikel Garcia grounds out to first baseman Bryce Harper.

[kikutaro]

Bobby Witt Jr.

In play, out(s) (93.1 mph sinker)

Bobby Witt Jr. grounds out, shortstop Trea Turner to first baseman Bryce Harper.

[kikutaro]

Vinnie Pasquantino

Foul (90. mph slider)
Foul (94.3 mph four-seam fastball)
Ball (94.3 mph sinker)
Foul (94.7 mph four-seam fastball)
In play, out(s) (83.6 mph curveball)

Vinnie Pasquantino grounds out, second baseman Bryson Stott to first baseman Bryce Harper.

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Philadelphia Phillies	0	0	1	1	0	0	0	2		4	10	1
Kansas City Royals	1	0	5	0	1	0	0	0		7	12	2

---

Current Batters

Philadelphia Phillies

Hitters	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	K	HR	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS
Kyle Schwarber DH	4	0	0	0	0	3	0	.245	.373	.467	.840
Trea Turner SS	4	0	0	0	0	2	0	.299	.341	.466	.807
Bryce Harper 1B	4	2	2	0	0	0	0	.275	.364	.522	.886
Alec Bohm 3B	4	1	1	0	0	1	0	.295	.348	.472	.820
Nick Castellanos RF	4	0	2	1	0	0	0	.248	.303	.413	.716
Bryson Stott 2B	3	0	1	1	0	1	0	.235	.309	.348	.657
J.T. Realmuto C	4	1	2	0	0	0	0	.256	.316	.389	.705
Brandon Marsh CF	3	0	1	1	0	0	0	.238	.314	.399	.713
Austin Hays LF	3	0	1	0	0	0	0	.258	.310	.394	.704
Taijuan Walker P								.000	.000	.000	.000
Tyler Gilbert P								.000	.000	.000	.000
Max Lazar P								.000	.000	.000	.000
José Alvarado P								.000	.000	.000	.000
Tanner Banks P								.000	.000	.000	.000

Kansas City Royals

Hitters	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	K	HR	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS
Michael Massey 2B	4	1	2	0	0	0	0	.269	.294	.462	.756
Maikel Garcia PH	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	.236	.285	.340	.625
Bobby Witt Jr. SS	5	0	1	0	0	1	0	.348	.398	.611	1.009
Vinnie Pasquantino 1B	5	2	2	1	0	0	0	.267	.322	.452	.774
Salvador Perez C	4	1	2	3	0	1	1	.276	.334	.474	.808
MJ Melendez LF	4	1	1	0	0	0	0	.207	.267	.410	.677
Hunter Renfroe RF	2	2	1	2	2	0	1	.238	.312	.401	.713
Adam Frazier DH	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	.215	.291	.300	.591
Freddy Fermin DH	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	.304	.353	.427	.780
Paul DeJong 3B	3	0	2	1	1	1	0	.238	.287	.448	.735
Kyle Isbel CF	4	0	0	0	0	1	0	.233	.286	.379	.665
Michael Wacha P								.000	.000	.000	.000
James McArthur P								.000	.000	.000	.000
Kris Bubic P								.000	.000	.000	.000

Current Pitchers

Philadelphia Phillies

Pitchers	IP	H	R	ER	BB	K	HR	P-K	ERA
Taijuan Walker	3.0	8	6	6	1	2	2	78-47	6.26
Tyler Gilbert	2.0	2	1	1	1	1	0	42-28	4.50
Max Lazar	1.0	1	0	0	0	1	0	18-10	0.00
José Alvarado	1.0	1	0	0	1	0	0	21-10	4.38
Tanner Banks	1.0	0	0	0	0	0	0	12-8	3.92

Kansas City Royals

Pitchers	IP	H	R	ER	BB	K	HR	P-K	ERA
Michael Wacha	6.0	6	2	2	0	5	0	94-64	3.32
James McArthur	1.0	1	0	0	0	1	0	17-10	4.62
Kris Bubic	1.0	3	2	2	0	1	0	22-14	3.52

[kikutaro]

Brandon Marsh

Maikel Garcia remains in the game as the second baseman.
Pitching Change: Lucas Erceg replaces Kris Bubic.
Called strike (99.3 mph four-seam fastball)
Called strike (99.4 mph four-seam fastball)
In play, no out (99.4 mph four-seam fastball)

Brandon Marsh doubles (11) on a sharp fly ball to right fielder Hunter Renfroe.

[kikutaro]

Austin Hays

Pitcher Step Off
In play, out(s) (86.1 mph slider)

Austin Hays flies out to left fielder MJ Melendez.

[kikutaro]

Kyle Schwarber

Called strike (91.5 mph changeup)
In play, out(s) (92.2 mph changeup)

Kyle Schwarber flies out to left fielder MJ Melendez. Brandon Marsh to 3rd.

[LoneStarPhan]

2 outs with only 3 pitches.

[kikutaro]

Trea Turner

Called strike (99.5 mph four-seam fastball)
Ball (86.7 mph slider)
Swinging strike (86. mph slider)
Ball (86.2 mph slider)
Called strike (86.3 mph slider)

Trea Turner called out on strikes.

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Philadelphia Phillies	0	0	1	1	0	0	0	2	0	4	11	1
Kansas City Royals	1	0	5	0	1	0	0	0		7	12	2

---

Current Batters

Philadelphia Phillies

Hitters	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	K	HR	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS
Kyle Schwarber DH	5	0	0	0	0	3	0	.244	.372	.466	.838
Trea Turner SS	5	0	0	0	0	3	0	.298	.340	.464	.804
Bryce Harper 1B	4	2	2	0	0	0	0	.275	.364	.522	.886
Alec Bohm 3B	4	1	1	0	0	1	0	.295	.348	.472	.820
Nick Castellanos RF	4	0	2	1	0	0	0	.248	.303	.413	.716
Bryson Stott 2B	3	0	1	1	0	1	0	.235	.309	.348	.657
J.T. Realmuto C	4	1	2	0	0	0	0	.256	.316	.389	.705
Brandon Marsh CF	4	0	2	1	0	0	0	.241	.316	.404	.720
Austin Hays LF	4	0	1	0	0	0	0	.256	.309	.392	.701
Taijuan Walker P								.000	.000	.000	.000
Tyler Gilbert P								.000	.000	.000	.000
Max Lazar P								.000	.000	.000	.000
José Alvarado P								.000	.000	.000	.000
Tanner Banks P								.000	.000	.000	.000

Kansas City Royals

Hitters	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	K	HR	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS
Michael Massey 2B	4	1	2	0	0	0	0	.269	.294	.462	.756
Maikel Garcia 2B	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	.236	.285	.340	.625
Bobby Witt Jr. SS	5	0	1	0	0	1	0	.348	.398	.611	1.009
Vinnie Pasquantino 1B	5	2	2	1	0	0	0	.267	.322	.452	.774
Salvador Perez C	4	1	2	3	0	1	1	.276	.334	.474	.808
MJ Melendez LF	4	1	1	0	0	0	0	.207	.267	.410	.677
Hunter Renfroe RF	2	2	1	2	2	0	1	.238	.312	.401	.713
Adam Frazier DH	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	.215	.291	.300	.591
Freddy Fermin DH	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	.304	.353	.427	.780
Paul DeJong 3B	3	0	2	1	1	1	0	.238	.287	.448	.735
Kyle Isbel CF	4	0	0	0	0	1	0	.233	.286	.379	.665
Michael Wacha P								.000	.000	.000	.000
James McArthur P								.000	.000	.000	.000
Kris Bubic P								.000	.000	.000	.000
Lucas Erceg P								.000	.000	.000	.000

Current Pitchers

Philadelphia Phillies

Pitchers	IP	H	R	ER	BB	K	HR	P-K	ERA
Taijuan Walker	3.0	8	6	6	1	2	2	78-47	6.26
Tyler Gilbert	2.0	2	1	1	1	1	0	42-28	4.50
Max Lazar	1.0	1	0	0	0	1	0	18-10	0.00
José Alvarado	1.0	1	0	0	1	0	0	21-10	4.38
Tanner Banks	1.0	0	0	0	0	0	0	12-8	3.92

Kansas City Royals

Pitchers	IP	H	R	ER	BB	K	HR	P-K	ERA
Michael Wacha	6.0	6	2	2	0	5	0	94-64	3.32
James McArthur	1.0	1	0	0	0	1	0	17-10	4.62
Kris Bubic	1.0	3	2	2	0	1	0	22-14	3.52
Lucas Erceg	1.0	1	0	0	0	1	0	11-9	2.81

[bkox]

This team will be in 2nd place after the Braves series next week

[LoneStarPhan]

Hard to look worse than Turner has this game.
Top of the order, Schwarber and Turner, both 0 for 5 tonight.

Royals yet another team that looks better than the Phillies. Pretty much every team they have played in past six weeks except the Dodgers have looked better than the Phillies.

Sad but the slump just keeps on going.

[Patchmk88]

This is one of those teams that looks great when they are going good, but they don’t have the staff or players to dig themselves out of it when it’s going bad.

Organizational pitching depth has also been exposed. Our first 4 are good. After that it is some of the worst in the league.

[zambonir]

I've been a bit of a Walker defender because of his track record last year (and before) as well as the reality of both his contract and the fact your average #5-6 starter really isn't any better (this is nothing we didn't see from Bailey Falter last year or Allard this year). He can be DFAed but then he wouldn't have to accept an assignment to the minors. Which, no great loss, but the Phillies probably aren't ready to eat the $ or give up on him completely.

Good chance that blister is acting up or something else is sore in a few days though.

The rotation depth is probably still Top 10 in MLB. Most teams are hurting more 1-4, and their 5/6 guys aren't actually better. With the Phillies it's unfortunate that Turnbull didn't work out (and yes, got a raw deal initiallly) and Allard was kind of a bust (he was ok once he got to MLB for a bit but his overall season in the minors was disappointing) and Abel wasn't an option. Plus Painter still wasn't of course.

Nick Nelson's still ready! (just not on the 40).

[andyb]

Can Walker be optioned? Would not be shocked to see him DFA-ed. I know there’s a lot left on his contract, so no one will claim him if waived. I can’t foresee him of being any use on our MLB roster for the rest of this season.

It does not matter if Walker has options because nobody would take him if he passes through waivers. He could become a free agent if he refused an assignment to the minors, but he'd lose the contract then. More likely the Phillies would just have another injury to declare, but they can definitely send him to the minors if they wanted to and he'd probably go if that was the only alternative.

The Phillies will not release him with 2 years left on the contract. It is just an odd situation they are in at the moment. There is enough stuff there for him to be a 5th starter still (that is why the Phillies keep giving him chances). Just no command at the moment.

[zambonir]

Rob better.be asked by reporters after the game two things:

Why they continue to pitch Walker in the rotation?

Well, doesn't sound like Alex Coffey asked that.

There are no obvious solutions here. The easiest solution, right now, is to fix whatever is ailing Walker.

Taijuan Walker’s struggles continue as Phillies drop series opener against the...

[zambonir]

I thought at a certain point in your service time you could refuse an assignment and keep the money.

[RolenRules]

"There is enough stuff there for him to be a 5th starter still."

I disagree. His velocity is off, not just his command. I think there is a nagging injury tthat is hindering his performance.

I hope I'm wrong and that Walker pitches well the rest of the season. I just don't see anything (with my admittedly untrained eye) to give me confidence.

[andyb]

I thought at a certain point in your service time you could refuse an assignment and keep the money.

I don't believe that is true. He can certainly declare free agency, but that is up to him. There have actually been a fair number of players on long term contracts sent to the minors to work on things and that is really the appropriate response here (both for the player and the team).