Taijuan Walker Shines on Sunday Despite No-Decision

Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports

Taijuan Walker was brilliant and nearly unhittable in his 15^th start of the 2022 season. The right-hander threw seven scoreless frames in which he gave up just three hits, walked one and struck out seven against the Marlins on Sunday afternoon. He threw 99 pitches (63 for strikes), but came up with a no-decision after the Marlins came back to defeat the Mets 2-0 in extra innings.

After a few rough outings, Walker has really settled in and bounced back over his last three appearances.

He took the outings he struggled with, made adjustments, and looks to be pitching some of his best innings over these last few starts. He has given up just three earned runs on 11 hits over 20 1/3 innings pitched. He has walked just four and struck out 19. He is 1-0 over his last three mound appearances, taking no-decisions in his other two outings.

Walker is 7-2 on the season with a 2.63 ERA and a 1.10 WHIP over the course of 85 2/3 innings pitched. He has struck out 68. His 2.63 ERA ranks seventh in the National League. He also has four starts in 2022 of at least seven innings pitched and no runs allowed, which is tied with Sandy Alcantara and Zack Wheeler for the most in the major leagues.

Walker so far has not been selected for the 2022 All-Star Game. He was an injury replacement for Jacob deGrom in 2021. “I don’t really remember last year,” said Walker. I just feel like lately I’ve been going out there and trying to give our team the best chance to win. Hopefully, I get in [the All-Star Game], but if not, having the four days off will be nice too,” he said.

Though the Mets took the loss against the Marlins, Walker said his outing was overall “fun” and that any time you face the best, you try to be the better pitcher and go the deepest.

“I faced him [Alcantara] last time in Miami, and even facing [Houston’s Justin Verlander], those are fun games,” Walker said. “You want to be just a little bit better. He’s one of the best, if not the best pitcher right now in baseball. It’s baseball, and we’re gonna lose some games.”