It’s clear that New York Mets starter Taijuan Walker wasn’t fooling anyone on the mound on Tuesday in his last spring training start.
He was battered to the tune of conceding six earned runs while recording only four outs.
It has to be a concerning development for a Mets team that is already down Jacob deGrom and has Max Scherzer questionable for Opening Day.
“Taijuan Walker’s final line today: 1.1 IP, 6 H, 6 ER, 0 K He threw only 30 pitches in his final start before the regular season,” Metsmerized tweeted on Tuesday.
Taijuan Walker's final line today:
1.1 IP, 6 H, 6 ER, 0 K
He threw only 30 pitches in his final start before the regular season.
— Metsmerized Online (@Metsmerized) April 5, 2022
The fact he didn’t return to keep stretching out his arm could be concerning for the Mets.
“Taijuan Walker did not return for the third inning of today’s game, despite a spring rule that would have allowed the Mets to bring him back. Walker recorded four outs and allowed six earned runs. It’s curious that the Mets did not have him continue to stretch out,” Mets beat writer for MLB.com Anthony DiComo tweeted.
Taijuan Walker did not return for the third inning of today's game, despite a spring rule that would have allowed the Mets to bring him back.
Walker recorded four outs and allowed six earned runs. It's curious that the Mets did not have him continue to stretch out.
— Anthony DiComo (@AnthonyDiComo) April 5, 2022
Last Season Was A Tale Of Two Halves
Walker covered 159 innings for the Mets in 2021, finishing with a 4.47 ERA and 146 strikeouts during his first season in Queens.
His 2021 campaign, however, was a tale of two halves.
He posted a 2.66 ERA in 94.2 first-half innings, even earning an All-Star berth.
However, everything fell apart after the break, as he finished with a ghastly 7.13 ERA in 64.1 frames.
He was well on his way to a very good season, but he was lousy in the second half.
Mets fans wanted to see him rebound in 2022, but he accumulated just two strikeouts in seven spring innings and has a 7.71 ERA in seven innings.
He may have a hard time replicating his 2021 first-half success.
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