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Walker Exits Phillies Game Against Mariners Early With Forearm Tightness

Taijuan Walker took the mound in Wednesday night's game against the Seattle Mariners but was pulled after four innings.

The Philadelphia Phillies have been besieged with injuries this season.

Especially to their pitching staff.

Ranger Suarez, Nick Nelson, Andrew Painter and Noah Song are all sidelined.

Now Taijuan Walker is dealing with right forearm tightness.

Walker was pulled after four innings of Wednesday’s 6-5 victory over the Seattle Mariners.

Walker allowed five runs – mostly due to a grand slam from J.P. Crawford and a solo shot from Julio Rodriguez – on only 68 pitches.

Manager Rob Thomson doesn’t believe the injury is serious.

Still, it has to be worrisome.

“He’ll see the doctor (today) and we’ll re-evaluate him,” Thomson said.

Walker signed a four-year, $72 million deal in the offseason to join an already strong starting staff.

Over the last two seasons, Walker had thrown at least 150 innings.

He has been dependable and reliable.

“Just want to get ahead of it,” Walker said. “Probably could have kept going. We didn’t want to make it worse.”

Smart move.

It’s not even May yet. There’s a lot of baseball left to be played as the Phillies chase another postseason berth. Getting Walker healthy is the proper thing to do.

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