TAYLOR WALLS NEWS

McClanahan stops 2-start skid, Rays beat Orioles 8-2

All-Star Shane McClanahan stopped a two-start losing streak, working six solid innings as the Tampa Bay Rays moved back in front of the Baltimore Orioles in the AL wild-card race w...

AUGUST 13, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Tellez hits tying HR, Adames winning single, Brews beat Rays

Rowdy Tellez hit a tying homer in the ninth inning and made a key defensive play in the 10th, setting up Willy Adames’ game-ending RBI single that gave the Milwaukee Brewers a 4-3...

AUGUST 10, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Sitting Sunday Walls is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Tigers, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact Yu Chang will step in at shortstop for Walls, who looks to be receiving a routine maintenance day. Walls had started in each of Tampa Bay's last five games while going 3-for-16 with a home run, four walks, three runs and two RBI.

AUGUST 7, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Tigers beat McClanahan, Rays 9-1 on Lou Whitaker Night

Harold Castro drove in two runs and scored twice as the Detroit Tigers ended a three-game skid with a 9-1 win Saturday over All-Star Shane McClanahan and the Tampa Bay Rays on Lou...

AUGUST 7, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Reaches base four times Walls went 1-for-2 with three walks and two runs scored Friday against the Tigers.

Impact Walls has started 11 of 14 games since the All-Star break, though Friday's effort marked only the third time he's reached base multiple times in that span. While he's maintained only a .139 average across those 11 starts, he's managed to score seven runs thanks to an 18.2 percent walk rate. Overall, Walls has a .548 OPS across 312 plate appearances this season, but he has been the regular starting shortstop since Wander Franco (wrist) has been sidelined.

AUGUST 6, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Slugs fifth homer Walls went 2-for-3 with a solo home run Tuesday against the Blue Jays.

Impact Walls took Jordan Romano yard in the final inning to tally his fifth home run of the season. He hit just .188 with one home run, five RBI, 11 runs scored and one stolen base across 81 plate appearances in July. Despite the struggles, Walls has remained the team's primary shortstop, though Yu Chang has replaced him in the lineup for three of the team's last seven games.

AUGUST 3, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Gausman allows 1-hit over 8 innings, Blue Jays beat Rays 3-1

Kevin Gausman allowed one hit and struck out 10 over eight masterful innings and the Toronto Blue Jays opened a nine-game trip with a 3-1 win over the Tampa Bay Rays

AUGUST 3, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Sitting in series finale Walls is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Guardians.

Impact Walls will sit for the second time in three games, and his leash as the Rays' everyday shortstop could be loosening while he struggles to make a consistent impact at the dish. Unless he's deployed off the bench Sunday, Walls will finish July with a lowly .188/.296/.290 slash line over 23 games.

JULY 31, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Not starting Friday Walls isn't starting Friday's game against the Guardians, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact Walls started the last two games and went 0-for-6 with a run, two walks and three strikeouts. He'll get a breather while Yu Chang starts at shortstop and bats ninth.

JULY 29, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Not in Friday's lineup Walls isn't starting Friday against the Orioles.

Impact Walls is in the midst of a three-game hitting streak in which he's gone 4-for-10 with a homer, a double, four runs, three RBI and a strikeout. He'll get a breather while Isaac Paredes starts at second base with Yu Chang taking over at shortstop.

JULY 15, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Rays score five in 7th, beat Boston 5-4 for four-game sweep

Taylor Walls and Yandy Díaz had two-run singles during a five-run outburst in the seventh inning, helping the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Boston Red Sox 5-4 and completing a four-game...

JULY 15, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Pitchers Eovaldi and Whitlock set to rejoin Red Sox Friday

The Boston Red Sox are set to get pitching reinforcements for their weekend series at the New York Yankees

JULY 14, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Smacks fourth homer Walls went 1-for-4 with a solo home run Wednesday against the Red Sox.

Impact Walls has started all four games at shortstop since Wander Franco went down with a fractured wrist. On Wednesday he tallied his fourth home run of the season and first since June 7. Walls has maintained just a .165/.246/.274 line across 256 plate appearances this season, but the Rays have continued to find him a regular spot in the starting lineup.

JULY 14, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

All-Star McClanahan wins 10th, Rays beat Red Sox again, 4-1

Shane McClanahan earned his 10th win and regained the major league lead in strikeouts during his final outing before the All-Star Game, pitching the Tampa Bay Rays past the Boston...

JULY 14, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Sale works 5 scoreless in debut, Red Sox lose 3-2 to Rays

Chris Sale worked five scoreless innings in his season debut, but the Boston bullpen couldn’t hold a two-run lead in a 3-2 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays

JULY 13, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

On bench Friday Walls will not start Friday's game against the Reds, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact Walls ranks fourth on the Rays with 236 plate appearances, though that's due entirely to his defense and positional versatility, as his .165/.246/.269 slash line leaves more than a bit to be desired. Isaac Paredes and Wander Franco will be the middle infielders Friday, with Yandy Diaz starting at third base.

JULY 8, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Kiermaier knocks in 4, Rays beat Red Sox 8-4 at Fenway

Kevin Kiermaier hit an early three-run double and broke a tie with an RBI grounder during a four-run sixth inning that sent the Tampa Bay Rays past the Boston Red Sox 8-4

JULY 6, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Riding pine Monday Walls isn't in the lineup Monday against the Red Sox, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact Walls started in the last three games and went 3-for-11 with a double, two runs, an RBI and a stolen base. He'll get a breather while Isaac Paredes shifts to the keystone with Ji-Man Choi starting at first base.

JULY 4, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Rays score 6 in the fifth inning for 7-3 win over Blue Jays

Shane Baz pitched six innings for his first win of the season, Harold Ramírez and Randy Arozarena hit two-run home runs and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Toronto Blue Jays 7-3

JULY 3, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Claims primary role at second base Walls will start at second base and bat eighth in Sunday's game against the Blue Jays, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact Walls will stay in the lineup for the sixth time in seven games and appears to have solidified himself as the Rays' primary second baseman ahead of Vidal Brujan, at least until Brandon Lowe (back) returns from the injured list. Though he's produced a measly .186/.213/.302 slash line since the beginning of June, Walls' excellent defense in the middle infield looks as though it'll be enough to keep him atop the depth chart for now.

JULY 3, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Drives in two Walls went 1-for-4 with a double and two RBI on Wednesday against the Brewers.

Impact Though it's made the infield more crowded, Walls has managed to stay in the lineup for two of three games since Wander Franco returned from the injured list. Walls delivered on the opportunity Wednesday, smacking a two-RBI double in the fourth inning. He has an ugly .167/.245/.276 line across 212 plate appearances for the season, but Walls has managed to collect at least one hit in five of his last six starts.

JUNE 30, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Tellez's 2 HRs, Davis' super catch send Brewers over Rays

Rowdy Tellez hit two home runs and Milwaukee center fielder Jonathan Davis made a spectacular catch, sending the Brewers over the Tampa Bay Rays 5-3

JUNE 29, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

On bench in Franco's return Walls is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Pirates, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact Wander Franco (quadriceps) was activated from the 10-day injured list and will start at shortstop in the series finale, leaving one spot in the infield no longer available for Walls, who is also capable of playing second and third base. The keystone looks to be Walls' best path to playing time with Franco back in the fold, but Walls may have to settle for backup duties at that position behind Vidal Brujan, who draws the starting nod Sunday. Neither Walls nor Brujan have been major producers at the plate this season, but Brujan may be the preferred option the moment after generating a .724 OPS over the Rays' last seven games.

JUNE 26, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Paredes hits 2-run single as Rays rally past Pirates 6-5

Isaac Paredes hit a solo homer in the eighth inning and a two-run single with two outs in the ninth, sending the Tampa Bay Rays to a 6-5 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates

JUNE 25, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Tallies multiple hits Walls went 2-for-4 with a double Wednesday against the Yankees.

Impact Walls led off the seventh inning with a double but was ultimately stranded. He had tallied a single three frames earlier to tally his first multi-hit game since May 3. Walls' time as the team's primary shortstop appears to be near an end with Wander Franco (quadriceps) in the midst of a rehab assignment.

JUNE 23, 2022 • ROTOWIRE