Walker, Abel, Painter: What's Phillies' rotation plan?

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PHILADELPHIA -- At this time two months ago, there would have been some interesting predictions for who would currently occupy the fifth spot in the Phillies' rotation.

Ideally, Aaron Nola would be healthy and back to his usual self. If not, maybe Mick Abel would have entrenched himself in the big league rotation by now. Or perhaps top prospect Andrew Painter would be prepping to make his MLB debut sometime this week.

But Nola is still on the injured list, Abel is back in Triple-A after struggling following his historic debut and Painter doesn't seem quite ready for The Show.

That leaves Taijuan Walker, who manager Rob Thomson confirmed will get another start on Friday at Yankee Stadium.

After throwing four innings of one-run ball in his return to the rotation against the Giants on July 8, Walker wasn't nearly as sharp against the Angels on Saturday at Citizens Bank Park. He allowed three runs off nine hits (including a pair of homers) while striking out four and walking one over four innings.

Walker now has a 3.77 ERA in 10 starts this season. He has a 3.71 ERA in 11 relief outings.

Walker began the year in the rotation before moving to the bullpen once Ranger Suárez was healthy. He returned to the rotation briefly following Nola's injury but went back to the 'pen for all of June in favor of Abel, who was optioned back to Triple-A earlier this month -- forcing Walker back into the rotation.

"He's battled," Thomson said. "I feel for him for last year and all the stuff that he went through. And then this year, he's done everything that we've asked him to do. Along the way, whatever situation he's been in, he's thrown the ball pretty well."

While Walker was struggling in round two of his most recent rotation stint, Abel was turning in another gem for Lehigh Valley. The 23-year-old righty, ranked the club's No. 5 prospect, allowed two hits over six scoreless innings in Saturday's 5-2 win against Rochester. That came on the heels of allowing only one hit over six scoreless innings on July 10 in his first start following his demotion.

Could Abel be pitching his way back to the big leagues?

“He was very good," Thomson said of Abel's most recent outing. "We haven’t talked about him coming back, but it was very good. That’s back-to-back starts now."

Of course, Painter is the prospect many believed would have found his way to Philadelphia by now. Going back as far as December, president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski has said the club was targeting "July-ish" for Painter, while conceding it could be June or it could be August.

Obviously, it wasn't June. It's looking as if it won't be July either. Painter, who is scheduled to pitch Thursday for Lehigh Valley, has a 5.01 ERA in 12 starts with the IronPigs.

"I think he’s just experiencing, as he’s gotten up into the higher ranks, it’s testing his command -- and that’s good," managing partner John Middleton said on Friday. "He’ll learn. He’s a smart guy, he’s a determined guy. He’ll get it right and he’ll get it when he gets it -- and hopefully, he’ll get it sooner rather than later for us."

By waiting until Thursday to give Painter his first start of the second half, the Phillies may not simply be giving the 22-year-old an extended rest around the All-Star break. It's also possible they're intentionally keeping him on a similar pitching schedule as Walker (and Abel) -- just in case.

"I’ve always said the whole time that he’s got to be healthy and he’s got to be performing and there’s got to be a spot here," Thomson said. "I think he’s going to get to where he’s the normal Andrew Painter. I don’t think he’s quite there yet."

A lot can change over the next two weeks.

Abel's name has swirled in plenty of rumors ahead of the July 31 Trade Deadline. If he's still here, maybe he comes back up in August. Nola could begin a rehab assignment as soon as this weekend with an eye on a mid-August return. Painter could have everything click at any moment.

Until one of those things happen, it'll be Walker holding it down.