Taijuan Walker’s days as a Philadelphia Phillie are officially over. The Phillies on Thursday released the veteran right-handed pitcher in a series of roster moves amid an eight-game losing streak.<\/p>\n
The Phils also recalled righty reliever Nolan Hoffman from Triple-A Lehigh Valley and optioned Alan Rangel to the IronPigs.<\/p>\n
Walker’s release comes after he allowed five runs on eight hits in four innings in Philadelphia’s 7-2 loss<\/a>\u00a0to the Cubs on Wednesday.<\/p>\n The Phillies signed Walker to a\u00a0four-year, $72 million contract<\/a>\u00a0in 2022 and the free-agent signing was a miss. \u00a0<\/p>\n After a serviceable 2025, the 33-year-old had a disastrous start to the 2026 season. He was 1-4 in five games with a 9.13 ERA in 22 2\/3 innings. Opponents hit .353\/.417\/.657 against him, which The Athletic’s Jayson Stark<\/a>\u00a0found was nearly identical to Joe DiMaggio’s slash line during the season of his record 56-game hitting streak.<\/p>\n Walker ends his Phillies career going 24-25 with a 5.12 ERA in 402 2\/3 innings in 89 games.<\/p>\n The 28-year-old Hoffman joins the Phillies’ bullpen after allowing two runs in 7 2\/3 innings with 14 strikeouts in seven appearances with the IronPigs this season. He made his major league debut last season<\/a>\u00a0with the Phillies after being acquired in a June trade.<\/p>\n Rangel struck out a career-high five batters and allowed one run on three hits in the Phillies’ 7-2 loss Wednesday.<\/p>\n The Phillies will look to avoid being swept for the second straight series Thursday afternoon in Chicago before heading to Atlanta. Zack Wheeler makes his season debut<\/a> Saturday night.<\/p>\n