It’s one thing to watch a pitcher experience growing pains. It’s another to see him under the bright lights. A new position has presented a painful puzzle—at least for one of the Philadelphia Phillies’ stars. The frustration is audible, a silent scream in high-stakes season. His journey reflects the team’s own precarious position. They are a club fighting not only their opponents but also their own demons and untimely injuries. As the team struggled on the mound, one of their biggest stars, signed for a whopping $72 million, stepped up with a rare and honest admission.

The most recent slip-up occurred in an 8-4 loss to the Chicago Cubs. The loss was the Phillies’ 10th in the last 12 games. The team is now five games behind the New York Mets in the National League East. Adding to the challenge is the absence of Aaron Nola. A stress reaction in his rib has kept the veteran ace out until at least the All-Star break. His injury creates a massive void in a rotation that has started to strain in recent weeks. Now, the pressure has intensified on all the arms in the bullpen.

For Taijuan Walker, that pressure boiled over into a blunt admission. “Usually, you can just wipe it off and get the next inning,” Walker lamented after the game. “If I knew I was pitching tomorrow, maybe I could clean it earlier. But I don’t know. It’s frustrating. I guess it’s something new to me.” His words paint a vivid picture of a veteran starter grappling with the unforgiving nature of relief pitching. There is no next inning to redeem yourself. Every pitch carries immense weight.

His struggle was perfectly illustrated in the game on Tuesday night. Walker came in during the sixth inning of a high-leverage moment, with the Phillies holding onto a one-run lead. His outing was a tale of two extremes in just 13 pitches. He impressively struck out the dangerous Kyle Tucker, a flash of what he could be. A couple of batters later, he served up a two-run homer to Ian Happ. The mistaken cutter ended up in the right-field seats, wiping out the lead and dooming the Phillies in that inning.

His final line for the night was a stark reflection of that one mistake. Walker pitched a single inning, allowing two hits, two earned runs, and a home run while recording one strikeout.

Phillies’ recent slump: A deep dive

It was a year of adjustment for the $72 million pitcher. In 13 appearances, Walker is 2-5 with a 3.69 ERA. The Phillies have used him as a starter and a reliever. He has started eight times and relieved five times. This hybrid approach highlights the team’s search for pitching solutions. They are trying to get the most out of his arm and experience. But the findings have been hit and miss.

His performance varies significantly between the two roles. As a reliever, he has shown flashes of brilliance, including his first career save. He threw three scoreless innings against the Tampa Bay Rays in May. But the disastrous outing against the Cubs highlights his inconsistency. He’s still searching for some rhythm and routine. Going from a structured starter’s routine to the unpredictable world of the bullpen is a huge adjustment for any pitcher.

Manager Rob Thomson sees potential despite the recent struggles. “Walker’s ‘stuff did tick up a bit’ during his 13-pitch sample,” Thomson said. The Phillies intend to ease him into a more traditional relief role. They won’t use him on consecutive days at first. That cautious approach acknowledges the physical and mental toll of the transition. The team’s hope is that he can be a reliable high-leverage arm for their bullpen, a huge need for them.

The Phillies’ slide of late has been alarming to the team and its followers. Their strong start has been dulled by a 1-9 mark in their past 10 games. The offense, while generally productive, has struggled to deliver in key moments. The pitching staff, despite a high strikeout rate, has a middling 4.03 team ERA. Injuries to key hitters Bryce Harper and Brandon Marsh have only compounded their troubles.

The team is simply for answers to stop the bleeding.