After four starts that combined for 19 ER Taijuan Walker shocked the world by going 9.0 IP, 1 ER, 1 Hit, 1 BB, 11 Ks against the Twins. The only blemish on the evening was a Miguel Sano HR in the 4th inning as he cruised through 9 frames with only 101 pitches. This is just absurd. His Changeup was as good as it's been all season, and he was able to switch to his Curveball as the lineup turned over to continue dominating the helpless Minnesota lineup. If this was the guy that shows up each time out, he would be in the Top 30, no question. But that's the problem. Walker is still very young and volatile, making him a poor man's Salazar. He has this upside (I was very high on that upside to start the year!), but I've seen him fail to produce with consistency. If need to chase upside, go for it as it will come with a cheaper price tag than the rest, but for those who are nearing the top of the standings, he could be a guy that pulls you out of it.
Let’s see what every other SP did yesterday:
