Overview
- The Phillies released right-hander Taijuan Walker on Thursday, ending the final year of his four-year, $72 million deal after a 1-4 start with a 9.13 ERA.
- Philadelphia paired the decision with a bullpen shuffle, recalling Nolan Hoffman from Triple A and optioning Alan Rangel.
- Later Thursday, Chicago walked off 8-7 on Dansby Swanson’s single in the 10th, stretching the Cubs’ winning run to nine and the Phillies’ skid to nine.
- The defeat left Philadelphia at 8-17 heading to Atlanta, with ace Zack Wheeler slated to rejoin the rotation this weekend.
- Cubs reliever Caleb Thielbar exited in the ninth with reported hamstring tightness, raising fresh questions about Chicago’s already thin bullpen.