Taijuan Walker will be recalled from AAA Tacoma and given the start against the New York Mets at Safeco Field Wednesday night when the clubs conclude a three-game series. Walker, who has been the subject of trade rumors, specifically as part of a package to Tampa Bay for utility man Ben Zobrist or David Price, or both, has made two starts for Seattle.
He defeated the Houston Astros June 30 at Minute Maid Park 10-4, allowing five hits over six innings. He lost his second start, 1-0, July 6 at Chicago, pitching four innings.
The Mariners sent Walker to AAA Tacoma prior to the All-Star break. With the Rainiers this season, Walker is 4-1 with a 3.76 ERA. Walker will contest New York’s Bartolo Colon (8-8, 4.12) in the series finale.
Earlier Tuesday, the Mariners recalled Erasmo Ramirez from the Rainers. He will pitch Tuesday night opposite RHP Jacob deGrom (3-5, 3.18) as the Mariners attempt to take two in a row from the Mets. To make room for Ramirez on the roster, the Mariners shipped Justin Smoak to Tacoma.
<span class="dsq-postid" data-dsqidentifier="2187402 https://sportspressnw.wpengine.com/?p=2187402">1 Comment
So is this going to be the usual pattern in which a player is called up on Day 1, plays one game on Day 2 and then gets sent back to Tacoma on Day 3? As much as players have been moved around more than pawns on a chessboard, it’s amazing the Mariners are over .500 heading into the last week of July. I guess the new way to build a winner is to create roster instability while burning your way through options like Edward R. Murrow burned his way through a pack of cigarettes.