The Mets may have received good news on Taijuan Walker, but it won’t help them this weekend in Philadelphia.
Manager Buck Showalter told reporters on Saturday that Walker will not make his scheduled start on Sunday against the Phillies, forcing the Mets to dip further into their starting pitching depth. Showalter said Walker could return as early as Tuesday.
They were already reaching for starters in Saturday’s doubleheader, using long man Trevor Williams and David Peterson, and now they are expected to call up prospect Jose Butto to start the series finale.
Walker lasted only two innings in his start Tuesday against the Braves due to a back injury that has since been determined to be a bulging disc. Carlos Carrasco recently went on the Injured List with a low-grade left oblique strain after he left his start on Monday early.
Butto, 24, has a 4.12 ERA between Double-A Binghamton and Triple-A Syracuse this year and has struck out 111 batters in 98.1 innings.
Showalter said Walker is doing well and an IL trip won’t be needed.
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