Walker suffered his first loss of the season Sunday versus the Royals, allowing three runs (two earned) on seven hits with four strikeouts across five innings.
The right-hander entered Sunday's start on the back of a streak of four consecutive quality starts, but he threw 96 pitches through five frames and was lifted before the sixth. Walker may have taken the loss Sunday, but his 1.80 ERA and 8.7 K/9 through five starts indicate that he could finally be ready to deliver on the promise that made him a highly-touted prospect. His next start will come Friday at Houston.