Pete

Walker

Walker was reportedly pulled over by police for speeding and failed a subsequent sobriety test. There hasn’t been an official statement from the Blue Jays or Major League Baseball yet with regards to possible disciplinary action, but that remains a possibility.

Walker had to shut down his first assignment when his knee pain returned. The Jays will work to get him up to about 65 pitches, and then determine whether he will return in the rotation or bullpen.

Justin Miller was scheduled to return from a rehab assignment and start, but suffered a setback. Walker has thrown 6 1/3 innings in relief so far this season, and is expected to be held to 65-75 pitches against the Twins.

Walker, on the DL with a strained patella tendon, should rejoin the Blue Jays in about two weeks.

Walker has a 5.00 ERA in 27 innings this season, so the Jays shouldn’t be hurt by going to Vinnie Chulk in his place.

Vinnie Chulk and Brian Tallet are expected to be recalled from Triple-A Syracuse.

There’s a good chance he’ll be asked to go on a rehab assignment before he’s activated next time. He didn’t before returning from the DL on June 27 and he’d been awful since.

It’s hard to believe there’s no room for Jason Frasor and Vinnie Chulk in a pen that includes Walker (5.40 ERA), Brian Tallet (5.94 ERA), Shaun Marcum (8.22 ERA), Scott Downs (5.05 ERA) and Scott Schoeneweis (5.96 ERA). Schoeneweis, at least, is still doing a fine job against left-handed hitters. The other four are all 12th pitchers. Frasor and Chulk at least have some upside.

Walker has little upside, but he is capable of putting up a 4.50 ERA as a starter. His next start comes against the Yankees, so he’s not to be touched in fantasy leagues.

Walker, who had a 4.48 ERA in 27 starts and 33 relief appearances for Toronto in 2002 and 2003, is back after a year in Japan. He went 2-4 with a 6.80 ERA in 10 starts for the Yokohama BayStars last season. He could be a candidate to make the Jays as a middle reliever, but he’ll probably open the season in Triple-A.