Walker will start Friday's Grapefruit League contest for the Phillies, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.
Walker would have started Tuesday's finale against Team USA had Team Mexico beaten Japan on Monday, but instead the right-hander will return to the Phillies to make a spring start. The right-hander pitched well in his previous outing in the WBC with eight strikeouts and four scoreless innings. He's projected to be the third starter for the Phillies in 2023, and if he can stay healthy, he has a chance to be a solid -- if unspectacular -- fantasy option.
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Phillies' Taijuan Walker: Impresses against Mexico
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Walker threw four scoreless innings with eight strikeouts Tuesday for Team Mexico in a start against Great Britain in the World Baseball Classic.
Walker allowed just one hit with one walk and showed off his athleticism by making a couple of impressive plays off the mound. The right-hander threw 40 of 63 pitches for strikes in one of the more impressive pitching performances of the tournament. Walker signed with the Phillies in the offseason, and if Philadelphia gets this version of the 30-year-old, both the club and fantasy managers should be very happy.
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Phillies' Taijuan Walker: To make Phillies debut Friday
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Walker is scheduled to make his Grapefruit League debut Friday against the Tigers, Corey Seidman of NBC Sports Philadelphia reports.
Walker signed a four-year, $72 million contract with the Phillies back in December and is now set for his first sort of close-up with the reigning National League champions. The 30-year-old right-hander worked to a solid 3.49 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 132:45 K:BB across 157.1 regular-season innings (29 starts) with the Mets last season.
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Phillies' Taijuan Walker: Heading to Philly
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Walker agreed to a four-year, $72 million contract with the Phillies on Tuesday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
Walker posted a 3.49 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 132:45 K:BB across 157.1 innings for the Mets last season, and he'll remain in the NL East for the foreseeable future as he makes his way to Philadelphia. The 30-year-old will slot in behind aces Zack Wheeler and Aaron Nola to bolster the Phillies' already strong rotation.
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Taijuan Walker: Declines player option
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Walker opted out of the final season on his contract with the Mets on Monday, electing to hit free agency.
In an unsurprising move, Walker has decided to forgo his $6 million player option for 2023 in pursuit of a more lucrative, longer-term deal on the open market. The 30-year-old returned to form in 2022, posting a 3.49 ERA and 1.19 WHIP with 132 strikeouts over 157.1 innings in 29 outings with the Mets. With Jacob deGrom and Chris Bassitt also opting out of their contracts over the past two days and joining Walker in free agency, the Mets could be looking at a new-look rotation around centerpiece Max Scherzer in 2023.
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Mets' Taijuan Walker: Added to wild-card roster
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Walker was added to the Mets' wild-card roster Saturday, Tim Britton of The Athletic reports.
Walker wasn't initially included on the series roster but will join it as Joely Rodriguez exits with a shoulder injury. Walker isn't expected to start either of the two remaining possible games, but he could be used in relief.
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Mets' Taijuan Walker: Won't pitch in wild-card round
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Walker wasn't included on the Mets' roster for the NL Wild Card Series against the Padres on Friday, Deesha Thosar of Fox Sports reports.
The veteran right-hander made his final start of the regular season during Tuesday's twin bill and delivered 4.1 scoreless frames, but he won't be needed during the series versus San Diego, which will be at most three games. Walker could factor into the Mets' rotation should the team advance to the NLDS, but for now Max Scherzer, Jacob deGrom (blister) and Chris Bassitt line up as the starting pitchers.
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Mets' Taijuan Walker: Fans 10 in no-decision
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Walker didn't factor into the decision in the second game of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Nationals, allowing four hits over 4.1 scoreless innings. He struck out 10 without walking a batter.
The veteran righty was dominant in his final outing of the regular season, and Walker only failed to rack up his 13th win of the year because the Mets wanted to give him a bit of extra rest ahead of the playoffs. It's the second time in his last five starts he's fanned double-digit batters, and he'll head into the postseason having posted a 3.03 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 36:5 K:BB through 29.2 innings over that stretch.
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Mets' Taijuan Walker: Eight strikeouts in no-decision
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Walker did not factor into the decision Wednesday, allowing three runs on six hits and two walks over five innings against Miami. He struck out eight.
Walker pitched a pretty good game aside from the two-run homer he surrendered to outfielder Bryan De La Cruz to open the scoring with two outs in the fourth inning. The righty has allowed a homer in five straight games, posting a less-than-stellar 4.15 ERA over 30.1 innings.
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Mets' Taijuan Walker: Let down by bullpen
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Walker (12-5) allowed four earned runs on six hits and three walks while striking out three across six innings to take the loss Wednesday against the Brewers.
Walker allowed only a solo home run through six innings, though he allowed the first three batters he faced in the seventh frame to reach base. After he was pulled, Drew Smith entered and served up a grand slam that soured Walker's line. Entering Wednesday's outing, Walker had allowed two or fewer earned runs in five of his last seven starts -- good for a 3.35 ERA. For the season, he now owns a 3.53 ERA with a 114:43 K:BB across 148 innings.
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Mets' Taijuan Walker: Punches out 10 in win
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Walker (11-4) earned the victory Sunday in Miami, striking out 10 in seven innings while allowing a run on five hits.
Walker was masterful Sunday, throwing 61 of his 87 pitches for strikes. Brian Anderson's fourth-inning solo homer was the only blemish in an otherwise excellent outing. There was some concern that Walker might not make the start Sunday as he had been dealing with a blister on his right index finger since his last start. He has a 3.56 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 26:12 K:BB in 30.1 innings over his last six appearances. His next start will likely next weekend against Pittsburgh.
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Mets' Taijuan Walker: Starting Sunday
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Walker (finger) will start Sunday's game against Miami, Mike Puma of the New York Post reports.
Walker dealt with a blister on his right index finger following Tuesday's start against the Pirates and was monitored by the Mets' medical staff after having the blister drained Wednesday. However, the issue won't force him to miss any turns through the rotation, as he's on track to start Sunday's series finale. The right-hander has lasted at least five innings in each of his last three starts, posting a 5.28 ERA and 1.43 WHIP in 15.1 innings during that time.
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Mets' Taijuan Walker: Blister surfaces in loss
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Walker (10-4), who was charged with the loss Tuesday against the Pirates, is dealing with a blister on his right index finger, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports. The right-hander allowed four runs on six hits with three strikeouts and two walks over five innings.
The 30-year-old threw 50 of his 80 pitches for strikes and generated only seven swinging strikes in Pittsburgh, though it's unclear how much of a factor the blister played in those results. Walker doesn't expect the issue to affect his next turn through the rotation, which tentatively lines up for Sunday in Miami. He'll have the blister drained Wednesday and receive further treatment.
Walker and the Mets won't face the Pirates on Monday after the game was postponed due to inclement weather in Pittsburgh, Rob Biertempfel of The Athletic reports.
The two teams are set to make up the contest as part of a split doubleheader Wednesday. Because the Mets have an open date in the schedule Thursday, the team isn't expected to add a temporary sixth starter to the rotation, so Walker should stay on schedule to make a start against the Pirates either Tuesday or Wednesday. Jacob deGrom and Chris Bassitt are in line to start the other two contests of the series.
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Mets' Taijuan Walker: Surrenders three runs Tuesday
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Walker allowed three runs on five hits and three walks with five strikeouts over 5.1 innings against the Dodgers. He did not factor in the decision.
Walker managed to get through the Dodgers' lineup the first time but ran into trouble the second time through the order. A few hits, a hit batter and a walk led to three runs being scored in the third inning. The wild outing was uncharacteristic of Walker this season, as Tuesday was just the third time that he has walked three or more batters in his 23 starts. He will carry a 3.45 ERA into his next start, which is lined up to be at Pittsburgh next week.
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Mets' Taijuan Walker: No-decision against Yanks
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Walker (back) didn't factor into the decision in Tuesday's 4-2 loss to the Yankees, giving up two runs on four hits and two walks over five innings. He struck out three.
The right-hander was held to 81 pitches (49 strikes) after exiting his last start with back spasms, but Walker seemed to emerge unscathed from this outing. Since the All-Star break, the 30-year-old has stumbled to a 6.31 ERA, 1.60 WHIP and 15:10 K:BB through 25.2 innings, and while much of that damage came in a brutal one-inning stint against Atlanta on Aug. 5, Walker will still be a risky fantasy option until he can string together some better performances.
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Mets' Taijuan Walker: Could start Tuesday
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Walker (back) won't make his scheduled start Sunday against the Phillies, though he's expected to avoid the injured list and could start Tuesday against the Yankees, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.
Back spasms forced Walker to exit his previous start Tuesday against Atlanta, but the issue doesn't seem like a major one. While he'll need at least a couple extra days to rest, he may not need to miss even one full turn in the rotation. The Mets have yet to announce a starter for Sunday's contest.
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Mets' Taijuan Walker: Could start Sunday
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The Mets are optimistic that Walker (back) could make his next scheduled start Sunday against the Phillies, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
Walker exited Tuesday's start after just two innings due to back spasms, but he underwent an MRI on Wednesday that didn't reveal any structural damage. The right-hander said that the injury was "the worst pain [he] ever felt," but he's feeling better two days later. The Mets will see how he feels in the coming days before confirming him as Sunday's starter, but Walker is trending in the right direction.
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Mets' Taijuan Walker: MRI returns clean
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Walker (back) underwent an MRI on Wednesday which showed no structural damage, though his availability for Sunday's scheduled start in Philadelphia remains up in the air, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.
The veteran right-hander was pulled from Tuesday's start after two innings due to back spasms, but the injury appears to be a minor concern. However, it remains to be seen if Walker will be able to make his next scheduled turn through the rotation or if he'll need to be pushed back a few days.
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Mets' Taijuan Walker: Dealing with back spasms
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Walker was removed from Tuesday's start in Atlanta due to back spasms, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
Walker allowed a hit and two walks and didn't record a strikeout over two scoreless innings before being lifted from Tuesday's contest. It's the second consecutive unplanned bullpen game for the Mets, as Monday's starter, Carlos Carrasco (oblique), also made an early exit due to an injury. The severity of the back issue remains unclear, leaving Walker's availability for his next turn through the rotation up in the air.
