Taijuan Walker back in rotation for now after Mick Abel demoted; Andrew Painter not considered

Phillies manager Rob Thomson called Mick Abel into his office Friday morning and let him know he was being optioned to triple-A Lehigh Valley.

“I think he understood,” Thomson said. “And I think he’s going to go down there, he’s going to get back what he had, and he’s going to be a better pitcher for it.”

Abel, 23, went 11 innings without allowing a run to start his major league career. Since then, however, his ERA has risen to 5.04. In his last two starts in particular, he has struggled with his command. On Wednesday against the Padres, he lasted only 1⅔ innings and allowed five runs and five walks.

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The move is intended to give Abel a chance to breathe and reset, Thomson said. He thinks Abel will benefit both physically and mentally from returning to the minors. Taijuan Walker will temporarily return to the rotation to take over the fifth starter spot on Tuesday against the San Francisco Giants.

“Just get his confidence back and be able to get through tough situations, adversity. And he’s done it before,” Thomson said. “I mean, this guy’s had a really good year this year. His poise, his composure has been outstanding. He’s really grown. So we just need to get back to that guy.”

Thomson pointed to Cristopher Sánchez, José Alvarado, and Hector Neris as examples of current and past Phillies pitchers who needed minor league resets early in their careers.

In a corresponding move, right-handed pitcher Seth Johnson was recalled. Johnson had been with the club during Wednesday’s doubleheader as the 27th man, and now the Phillies will give him a bit of a longer look. Johnson tossed two scoreless innings on Wednesday, and touched 99.8 mph with his four-seam fastball.

“Just his strike-throwing ability when he’s been out here, and it’s been going on for a while now, even at triple A,” Thomson said. “Because the stuff is there, and he can really spin it, too. So if he throws strikes, he’s going to get people out.”

Meanwhile, Walker’s return to the rotation marks a reversal of the Phillies’ previous plans for him. Walker had ping-ponged between starting and relieving earlier in the year, but Thomson eventually wanted to give him stability with a permanent bullpen role.

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The change in plans was more about necessity, Thomson said. He anticipates Walker will throw about four innings.

“I think he always considers himself a starter, and I think ultimately he wants to start,” Thomson said. “He’ll do anything for the ballclub, because he’s that type of guy.”

The fifth starter spot is needed only a single time before the All-Star break, after which the Phillies will reevaluate.

Andrew Painter was not under consideration for taking over Abel’s spot in the rotation on Tuesday, Thomson said. Painter pitched five innings on Thursday in Lehigh Valley, and gave up seven hits, four earned runs, and one walk. He struck out seven.

Thomson said he watched tape of Painter’s outing.

“Four really good innings, and in the fourth inning he gave up four runs,” he said. “Gave up some hits. He left the ball over the plate, but he got a lot of swing and miss in the other four innings. Threw strikes, spun it really well, pitched up in the zone really well. I thought he was good.”

Painter is scheduled to start again on Tuesday and next Sunday for the IronPigs.

Aaron Nola (rib) threw a “Williamsport” bullpen session on Friday, which involves throwing off the slope of the mound for a shorter distance than a typical bullpen. He is scheduled to throw a regular bullpen session on Sunday and then will head to the Phillies’ facilities in Clearwater, Fla., to continue his rehab.

Thomson said he expects Nola to need two additional bullpen sessions before he will start throwing live batting practice. He will remain in Clearwater over the All-Star break.

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Outfielder Austin Hays, one of Dave Dombrowski’s 2024 trade deadline acquisitions who saw the second half of his season derailed by a kidney infection, is back in Philadelphia this weekend with the Cincinnati Reds. Hays is slashing .284/.322/.539 in 37 games. ... Double-A Reading infielder Felix Reyes and Florida Complex League right-hander Ramon Marquez were named the Phillies’ minor league hitter and pitcher of the month for June, respectively. ... Ranger Suárez (7-2, 2.00 ERA) is scheduled to start Saturday against Reds left-hander Nick Lodolo (5-5, 3.52).