After exiting his previous start early due to neck spasms, Walker (2-2) returned to the hill against the Rays on Wednesday. He pitched 5.2 innings, allowing four runs, five hits and three walks while striking out nine and did not factor in the decision.
The starter cruised through five innings, allowing just two hits and striking out eight, but then gave up a game-tying grand slam to Corey Dickerson in the sixth. Walker had walked only three batters in his first 37 innings of the season, but issued three that inning to go along with three hits. Overall, his walk rate is much improved from last season (2.12 BB/9 in 2015 compared to 1.43 this season). A first-round pick of 2010, Walker has shown impressive development in many areas of his game, but owners will have to be patient at times while the 23-year-old is still learning how to enter the game's top-tier of pitchers.