Weekend pitching schedule and injury update for the Phillies

Florida’s Port Charlotte — The only Phillies starting pitcher who hasn’t started a game this spring, Taijuan Walker, will toss from the bullpen on Friday in Clearwater.

Walker will either throw live batting practice on Monday or pitch in the Phillies’ game against the Yankees on the same day, if all goes according to plan, manager Rob Thomson announced following the Phillies’ Thursday afternoon loss to the Rays.

Walker had a personal reason for missing several days of camp two weeks prior, and upon his return, he had right knee discomfort. Because he takes longer than most starting pitchers to ramp up, the Phillies would like to see him back on the mound as soon as possible. A year earlier, he only made three appearances in the Grapefruit League due to his World Baseball Classic participation with Team Mexico, which kept him away from camp. Following his erratic start to 2023, the 31-year-old pitched fewer than five innings in four of his first six regular-season starts.

Injury updates

Brandon Marsh is making progress in his return from arthroscopic knee surgery and was scheduled for at-bats in an intrasquad game back in Clearwater on Thursday. He’ll do the same on Saturday. The Phillies remain confident he will be back in time to receive plenty of game reps in camp ahead of Opening Day.

Cristopher Sanchez (illness) will throw batting practice before making his next start. Various Phillies — Sanchez, Mick Abel, Scott Kingery, Nick Castellanos, Kody Clemens, Tyler Phillips and others — have dealt with the bug traveling through the Phils’ clubhouse.

“They’re starting to come back, we’re getting less and less people with symptoms,” manager Rob Thomson said, before knocking on wood. “Hopefully, we’re getting healthier.”

 

Ryan Burr, a right-hander, left the game early on Thursday due to stiffness behind his right shoulder. As a non-roster invitee, Burr is in camp under a minor-league contract. He’s made four appearances in games.

Plans for weekend pitching

The Phillies’ starting pitcher against the Astros on Friday is Ranger Suarez.

Max Castillo is scheduled to open the game against the Blue Jays on Saturday. Castillo is competing with Nick Nelson, Dylan Covey, Kolby Allard, and Spencer Turnbull for the long relief job in the Phillies’ bullpen.