The Philadelphia Phillies have had a somewhat uneven start to the 2025 season, but things are still trending in the right direction. Following a win over the Washington Nationals on Wednesday, the team holds a solid 17-13 record, placing them second in the NL East. What makes this all the more impressive is that they’ve managed to accomplish this without one of their key starting pitchers, Ranger Suárez, who has been sidelined since spring training with a back injury.
That’s about to change.
After several weeks of ramping up in the minors, Suárez is set to make his season debut on Sunday against the Arizona Diamondbacks. His return could have a major ripple effect on the Phillies’ pitching staff. Since transitioning into a starting role in 2021, Suárez has quietly become one of the most dependable arms in the league, compiling a 3.27 ERA over that stretch. He continued that consistency last year, finishing with a 3.46 ERA. His ability to pitch deep into games while keeping runs off the board adds stability and top-tier quality to Philadelphia’s rotation.
Perhaps just as significant is who Suárez is likely to replace: Taijuan Walker.
Walker was considered an expendable piece by many fans after a rocky 2024 campaign, but he’s unexpectedly performed well so far this season. Through five starts, he has posted a 2.78 ERA, proving to be a surprisingly effective stopgap in Suárez’s absence. However, that performance may not be as sustainable as it looks. His underlying metrics — such as an xERA of 3.94 and an FIP of 4.05 — point to some regression ahead. In short, Walker has outperformed his peripherals, and the Phillies would be wise not to rely too heavily on that trend continuing.
With Suárez healthy and ready to go, the Phillies are faced with a decision. Do they keep Walker in the rotation and go with a six-man setup? Or do they revert to a traditional five-man rotation and move Walker elsewhere?
Manager Rob Thomson addressed that question, noting that a six-man rotation comes at a cost: bullpen flexibility. Philadelphia’s bullpen is already operating on a thin margin, and removing an arm to accommodate an extra starter could strain the unit further. Thomson emphasized that the coaching staff continually evaluates all angles before making such a strategic shift.
From a roster construction standpoint, sticking with five starters makes more sense. Walker has served admirably, but asking for continued success given his track record might be pushing the envelope. A better move might be shifting him into a long-relief or swingman role — a spot where he can still contribute without being overexposed. Alternatively, if the Phillies are in a position to deal, he could be a sell-high candidate in trade talks with other teams.
Ultimately, Ranger Suárez’s return is a significant turning point for Philadelphia’s pitching staff. It gives the rotation a higher ceiling and opens the door to strategic improvements elsewhere on the roster. While Taijuan Walker deserves credit for holding things down in the interim, the time has likely come for the Phillies to hand the ball back to one of their most consistent arms and reconfigure their pitching setup accordingly.
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