Taijuan Walker Struggles in Shortest Outing Since July

Taijuan Walker did not have his best stuff on Sunday, struggling against the Washington Nationals. However, he was fortunate to come away with a no-decision as the Mets defeated Washington, 13-6.

Walker pitched just 4 1/3 innings, giving up six earned runs on six hits, with two of those hits being home runs. He walked three and struck out six over the course of his outing and threw 82 pitches (51 for strikes). This latest appearance ballooned his ERA up to a season-high mark of 4.15.

After the Mets went up 4-0 in the top of the first, Walker gave up two home runs to Lane Thomas and Josh Bell in the bottom half of the frame, quickly allowing the Nationals to come back and get within one run of New York.

After that rough start, Walker settled in a bit and retired the Nationals in order in the second, including a strikeout. In the third inning, he allowed one walk while also striking out one, appearing to find his command and get in a groove. That looked to be the case in the following inning, too, as he struck out the side in the fourth, his best inning of the afternoon.

After getting his footing underneath him in the second through the fourth innings, the game unraveled for Walker in the fifth. With the Mets up 6-3, Walker gave up three singles in a row with one out. The Mets made a mound visit to try to settle down the right-handed pitcher, but he then gave up a two-RBI single (the fourth hit in a row he allowed) to Juan Soto that scored Yadiel Hernandez and Thomas to bring Washington back within one run. A wild pitch scored Escobar, and then Bell drew a walk.

Walker’s walk of Bell ended his outing, as manager Luis Rojas went to his bullpen and replaced his starter with Jeurys Familia, who ultimately got the Mets out of the inning. The Mets’ offense exploding for 13 runs (including six in the top of the ninth) enabled Walker’s start to fall into the background a little bit, but he’ll be important to New York as the team attempts to make a push to play October baseball during the final month of the regular season.

When asked about his outing, Walker was pretty straightforward about his performance after the offense put up six runs in support of him. “I just didn’t do my job,” he said.

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