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.
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.
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.
Mets' Taijuan Walker: Won't pitch in wild-card round
Rotowire
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
Rotowire
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.
