Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Taijuan Walker mowed down his first three batters on Tuesday but that was not a sign of things to come.
The 29-year-old right-hander labored through his second inning, allowing six runs in 1.1 innings pitched. Walker was removed after over 30 pitches during the bottom of the second against the Nationals. He would’ve been allowed to reenter the game because of spring training rules but the Mets kept him on the bench.
“Came out, my knee was a little bit sore, bugging me a little bit,” Walker said. “So I was using all arm and we didn’t want to push it. We shut it down.”
Walker’s second inning began with a single to Josh Bell, a two-run home run to Keibert Ruiz, another single to Lane Thomas, and another two-run home run by Alcides Escobar. His fifth batter, Maikel Franco, would record the first out. Victor Robles doubled and Cesar Hernandez singled, leading to Walker getting pulled.
Walker is still recovering from offseason knee surgery.
“It’s been feeling really good and we’ve been kind of working on some mechanical stuff in the lower half,” Walker said. “I think we kind of just put a little too much stress on it.”
Walker says his knee was aching throughout the week and the Mets thought it would go away by the time it was his turn to start again. Walker says it’s nothing concerning and he was removed for precautionary reasons.
Walker says he’ll be ready to pitch when the regular season begins on Thursday. The amount of pitches he’ll be able to throw isn’t set but he assumes 60 to 65.
In addition to Walker, the Mets are dealing with an injury to Brandon Nimmo. Nimmo missed Monday and Tuesday’s games due to a neck problem. Nimmo received a cortisone-type injection in his neck and is uncertain for Opening Day. Manager Buck Showalter said “we should get good results.”
It’s the second time this spring Nimmo is dealing with a neck issue. In 2019 he was limited to just 69 games due to an injury to his neck.
