PHILADELPHIA — In signing Taijuan Walker to the fourth-largest contract for pitchers in last winter’s free-agent market, the Phillies cited scouting and data that indicated he could pitch deeper into games than in past years.
Through two starts, it hasn’t happened.
But the Phillies also built a bullpen that they believed could cover for short outings by the starters, with four potential closers and multiple middle-inning options from which manager Rob Thomson could choose.