Mariners’ Walker might shut down early
Nearly eight weeks remain in the regular season, but Mariners right-hander Taijuan Walker might be approaching the tape as he heads into today’s start against the Baltimore Orioles.
Walker, who turns 23 on Thursday, is nearing a career-high in innings, which will put him under increased scrutiny in coming weeks.
Even now, manager Lloyd McClendon admits he’s “not comfortable” that Walker can continue to pitch every fifth game through the end of the season.
“My responsibility to Taijuan Walker and to this organization,” McClendon said, “is make our pitchers as healthy as we possibly can. Being mindful of his innings is part of that process.”
McClendon said lefty Mike Montgomery, while older at 26, must also be watched over the closing weeks. Some clubs are less rigid in setting innings limits on pitchers who are 25 or older.
“It’s not like he’s 36,” McClendon said. “If we think this kid has the ability to pitch in this league for the next 10 years, at 25 or 26, what’s the difference?”
Walker heads into his start at 8-7 with a 4.67 ERA through 129 innings over 22 starts. He has never exceeded 141 1/3 innings in five previous professional seasons since his selection in the 2010 draft.
He logged 139 innings a year ago, including time in the Arizona Fall League.
“Stress has a lot to do with it,” McClendon said, “and, obviously, the innings at this level are a lot more stressful than the ones at Double-A and Triple-A.
“But I think, as a general rule of thumb, you look at 25-to-30, sometimes 35, more innings than the year before (as an acceptable maximum).”
That puts Walker’s maximum workload at roughly 175 innings. That projects to another seven or eight starts. He would reach his maximum with about two weeks left in the season.
Montgomery is at 133 1/3 innings, counting his time earlier this season at Triple-A Tacoma. That already exceeds his totals from the two previous seasons: 126 innings a year ago and 131 1/3 innings in 2013.
While Montgomery did work roughly 150 innings in 2012 (149 2/3) and 2011 (150 2/3), clubs generally look at the two previous years in determining an acceptable workload.
Clearing the bases
Red Sox closer Koji Uehara will miss the rest of the season with a broken right wrist. Uehara was hit by a line drive in Friday night’s game against the Tigers. Uehara is 2-4 with a 2.23 ERA and 25 saves in 27 opportunities this season. … The Mets have chosen to keep top outfield prospect Michael Conforto in the major leagues despite activating Michael Cuddyer from the 15-day disabled list. The Mets instead sent 3B/OF Eric Campbell to Triple-A Las Vegas to make room for Cuddyer. Cuddyer was New York’s primary left fielder until he went on the DL July 24 with left knee inflammation. The left-handed swinging Conforto was called up from Double-A Binghamton at that time. … The Dodgers placed 2B Howie Kendrick on the 15-day disabled list because of a strained left hamstring and recalled INF Jose Peraza from Triple-A Oklahoma City. Kendrick is hitting .296 with nine homers and 49 RBIs in 105 games. He was injured while beating out an infield single during the Dodgers’ loss to the Pirates on Sunday.