Taylor Walls Injury News & Updates

Walls underwent right hip surgery and he is expected to return to participating in baseball activities in February, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

The procedure was to relieve discomfort from an impingement and repair a labral tear in his right hip. Walls' readiness for Opening Day will be determined later in the rehab process, according the release from the team. He hit .179 with a .278 slugging percentage in his final 263 at-bats of the season.

Walls is starting at shortstop and batting seventh in Tuesday's Wild Card Series opener versus the Rangers.

Walls didn't start two of the Rays' final three regular-season games and has posted an anemic .491 OPS since the beginning of June. However, manager Kevin Cash trusts Walls' glove at shortstop more than anyone else and that's earned him a start in Game 1.

Walls is absent from the lineup Friday at Toronto.

Junior Caminero is playing shortstop and batting sixth as Curtis Mead handles second base and hits third. Walls, 27, has slashed just .125/.250/.208 with 21 strikeouts over his last 57 plate appearances dating back to Sept. 7.

Walls was activated from the paternity leave list Monday, Tricia Whitaker of Bally Sports Sun reports.

Walls was away for a couple days while tending to more important real-life matters. Tristan Gray had replaced Walls on the roster but will now head back to Triple-A Durham with Walls back in tow.

Walls was placed on the paternity list Saturday, Tricia Whitaker of Bally Sports Sun reports.

Walls can be away from the team for up to three games. To take his spot on the roster, the Rays selected the contract of Tristan Gray.

Walls (groin) is starting at shortstop and batting seventh Thursday versus the Mariners in his return to the lineup.

Walls hasn't played since Sunday because of a groin injury, but he feels well enough to give it a go in the series opener against Seattle. Assuming his health cooperates, Walls should see the bulk of the starts at shortstop for the Rays while Wander Franco is on administrative leave.

Walls (groin) is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Red Sox but could be available off the bench, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

The 27-year-old indicated he's fully recovered from the groin issue that's sidelined him the past couple days, but he'll still be held out of the lineup for Wednesday's series finale. Walls is expected to rejoin the starting nine Thursday versus Seattle but could see more regular off days going forward in an attempt to manage the injury. Osleivis Basabe will receive another start at shortstop in his place.

Manager Kevin Cash said Walls (groin) is feeling better but isn't expected to rejoin the Rays' lineup until Thursday's game against the Mariners, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Walls is sitting for the second straight game Tuesday due to a groin issue, and it appears he'll also be sidelined for Wednesday's series finale versus Boston. It doesn't appear to be a serious injury, so the 27-year-old should be back by the end of the week. Vidal Brujan is making a second consecutive start at shortstop Tuesday.

Walls (groin) remains out of the lineup for Tuesday's game versus the Red Sox.

Walls is a little banged up with minor groin soreness, though the Rays seem confident it's merely a day-to-day situation. He had just returned over the weekend after being out more than six weeks with an oblique strain. Vidal Brujan is getting another start at shortstop while Walls recuperates.

Walls is absent from the Rays' lineup Monday versus the Red Sox due to a groin injury, Kristie Ackert of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Walls just returned Saturday after missing more than six weeks with an oblique strain and he lasted just two games before suffering another injury. The Rays are hopeful that he'll be able to avoid an IL stint this time around, but he'll be down for at least a day or two. Vidal Brujan is at shortstop Monday.

Walls went 2-for-4 with an RBI, a run scored and a stolen base Sunday against the Guardians.

As expected, Walls has taken over the starting shortstop job in Tampa Bay, as he's started both games at the position since being activated from the injured list. He's gone 3-for-8 in that span and most importantly showed a willingness to be active on the basepaths Sunday. Walls will likely be limited to the bottom third of the order but should still be a solid source of stolen bases and runs scored down the stretch.

Walls (oblique) was activated Friday from the 10-day injured list, Ryan Bass of Bally Sports Sun reports.

Walls is recovered from the left oblique strain that has kept him sidelined since late July and figures to get regular starts at shortstop down the stretch with Wander Franco facing all sorts of trouble while on administrative leave. Osleivis Basabe, the Rays' primary fill-in at short since the Franco news broke, could slide into more of a utility role or the short side of a platoon.

Walls (oblique) is on track to be activated from the injured list Sept. 1, Ryan Bass of Bally Sports Sun reports.

Walls recently turned a corner in his recovery from the left oblique strain that sent him to the injured list four weeks ago. He'll take another round of live batting practice Sunday before then embarking on a minor-league rehab assignment with Triple-A Durham that is slated to run from Tuesday through Thursday.

Rays manager Kevin Cash said Wednesday that Walls (oblique) is "still a ways away" from a return, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

A left oblique strain forced Walls to the injured list back on July 22 and there is still no timetable for his return to major-league action. The switch hitter has swiped 20 bags this season and he's taken a step forward with the bat, with a 95 wRC+ putting him just a little below league average by that metric.

Walls was placed on the 10-day injured list Saturday with a left oblique strain, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

The injured occurred during Thursday's loss to the Orioles. No timetable for Walls' return has been established, but it's an injury which typically requires more than a minimum stay on the IL. Isaac Paredes should see a little more playing time with Walls out and Vidal Brujan -- who has taken Walls' spot on the roster -- could also get some starts.

Walls will start at shortstop and bat eighth in Wednesday's game against the Rangers, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Walls remains without a direct path to a spot in the everyday lineup, but he's picked up starts in four of the Rays' first six games out of the All-Star break at either second base, third base or shortstop. He'll be filling Wednesday for a resting Wander Franco, but despite his versatility, Walls isn't expected to handle a near-everyday role for the balance of the season while all of Tampa Bay's key infielders are available. Walls got off to a strong start to the season at the plate, but since the beginning of June, he's turned in a woeful .152/.264/.200 slash line.

Walls went 0-for-3 with a walk and two steals in Thursday's 3-1 loss against the Phillies.

Walls continued to run all over the Phillies, racking up his second and third stolen bases of the series Thursday. The pair of swipes pushed him to 20 on the season, the ninth most in baseball. Though he's managed to produce in the steal column lately, Walls is going through a mini-slump, having gone hitless in each of his last four games (10 at-bats).

Walls went 2-for-5 with an RBI, two runs scored and a stolen base Friday against the Mariners.

Walls was held out of the Rays' lineup for three games with a back issue, but he returned to tally his second multi-hit performance in 24 games in June. He hit just .175 for the month and also had only two stolen bases. Walls is hitting just .218 across 242 plate appearances on the campaign, but his 12.4 percent walk rate gives him additional opportunity to rack up runs and stolen bases.

Walls (back) is hitting eighth and playing second base versus the Mariners on Friday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Walls was kept out of the lineup for three consecutive games because of tightness in his back/right lat. The infielder is ready to roll against the Mariners for the series opener, and Vidal Brujan will retreat back to the bench with Walls back in the lineup.

Walls (back) remains out of the lineup for Thursday's game in Arizona, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

It's the third straight game Walls has missed with right lat/back tightness. An MRI came back negative, but it's possible Walls will need a stint on the injured list if the issue lingers. Vidal Brujan will be at second base and Isaac Paredes will handle the hot corner Thursday.

Walls (back) is not in the lineup Wednesday against the Diamondbacks.

As expected, Walls will miss a second straight game after being scratched from the Rays' lineup Tuesday due to tightness in the middle of his back. The hope is that he might be able to return to action in Thursday's series finale at Arizona. Vidal Brujan is covering second base and batting ninth Wednesday night at Chase Field.

Rays manager Kevin Cash told reporters after Tuesday's loss that Walls (back) won't return to the starting lineup Wednesday against the Diamondbacks, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Cash confirmed that Walls is day-to-day with the injury. The infielder was scheduled to hit seventh and play second base versus Arizona on Tuesday, buth e was scratched from the lineup due to tightness in the middle of his back. With Walls out of the lineup, it's likely Isaac Paredes will get another start at second base in his absence.

Walls was scratched from the lineup on Tuesday against the Diamondbacks with tightness in the middle of his back, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Walls was originally scheduled to hit seventh against Zac Gallen and the D-Backs, but the back issue kept him from playing Tuesday. Isaac Paredes moved over to second base with Yandy Diaz playing third and Luke Raley playing first.

Walls went 1-for-4 with a stolen base Wednesday against the Athletics.

Walls has only four hits across 41 at-bats in June, limiting his opportunity to steal bases. Despite the slow stretch, he's maintained a consistent role -- he's benefitted from the absence of Brandon Lowe (back) -- and has been out of the lineup only twice in the team's last 15 games. Walls should remain a decent source of stolen bases and runs if he can get back on track at the plate, though he's now hitting only .209 across 198 plate appearances for the season.

Walls went 0-for-2 with two walks, a run scored and a stolen base Wednesday against the Cubs.

Walls got a rare start at shortstop with Wander Franco (shoulder) sidelined, though he has been a regular in the lineup playing both second and third base. He tallied his 15th stolen base of the season Wednesday, six of which have come in his last five starts. Wall's primary path to fantasy value is his speed, though he also has 29 runs scored across 44 games and is aided by a strong .349 on-base percentage.

Walls isn't starting Tuesday against the Cubs, sMarc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Walls has been in a cold spell at the plate recently, slashing just .152/.263/.212 over the past two weeks. Isaac Paredes will take over as Tampa Bay's third baseman Tuesday and bat sixth.

Walls is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Dodgers.

Walls still lacks a direct path to an everyday spot at any one position, but he's stuck in the lineup at either second or third base in each of the previous five games and racked up five stolen bases over that stretch. Thanks to his strong defense, excellent baserunning and improved production at the plate, Walls should be in store for only one or two off days a week even when Tampa Bay is at full strength.

Walls went 1-for-4 with a run scored and two stolen bases Friday against the Dodgers.

Walls continues to use his defensive versatility to remain a regular in the lineup. In the last 10 games, he's started once at shortstop, four times at third base and three times at second. Walls has been particularly aggressive on the basepaths across the last two games by swiping four bases. His 13 stolen bases are the primary source of his fantasy value, but Walls has also quietly amassed an .840 OPS as well as 27 runs scored across 41 games this season.

Walls went 0-for-3 with a run scored and two steals in Thursday's 6-3 victory over the Blue Jays.

Walls logged two of the Rays' seven stolen bases Thursday, improving to 11-for-11 in steal attempts this season. While he's been effective on the base paths, Walls has struggled at the plate recently -- he's gone just 1-for-17 with eight strikeouts in his last seven games. Still, the 26-year-old infielder should continue to see steady playing time with Tampa Bay thanks to his defensive acumen and positional versatility. Through 137 plate appearances, Walls is slashing .246/.350/.500 with seven home runs, 19 RBI and 26 runs scored.

Walls went 1-for-5 with a run and two stolen bases Wednesday in an extra-inning loss to the Mets.

Walls was punched out four times in the contest, but he still helped his fantasy managers with a pair of thefts. One of those came after he began the 10th inning as the automatic runner, leading to a run that temporarily game Tampa Bay the lead. Walls has nine steals through 33 games this season, which already puts him one short of his total over 142 contests last year.

Walls went 3-for-4 with a triple, a homer, four RBI, a run scored and a steal in Sunday's victory over the Yankees.

Walls filled up the stat sheet Sunday, logging three hits, including a triple and a grand slam, powering the Rays to an 8-7 victory. Walls now has seven homers in 92 at-bats this season, one shy of his career high set in 407 at-bats last year. The 26-year-old infielder is slashing .281/.373/.583 with 22 runs scored, 18 RBI and seven stolen bases through 110 plate appearances while carving out a regular role in Tampa Bay's lineup.

Walls went 1-for-3 with a walk and a solo home run Tuesday against the Orioles.

Walls took Grayson Rodriguez yard in the fifth inning to record his sixth home run of the season. He now has three long balls across his last seven starts, though he has only seven total hits in that span. Walls has enjoyed a regular role while appearing primarily at second and third base, and he's maintained a .265/.365/.542 line across 96 plate appearances for the season.

Walls is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Yankees, Ryan Bass of Bally Sports Sun reports.

While moving between three positions (second base, third base and shortstop), Walls had started in six of the Rays' last seven games. He doesn't have a clear path to an everyday role at any one position, but Walls' versatility, slick glove, improved plate skills and ability to contribute as a baserunner should continue to allow him to pick up a handful of starts per week.

Walls went 1-for-3 with a solo home run Thursday against the Pirates.

Walls opened the scoring with a solo home run off Vince Velasquez in the second inning of Thursday's game. It was his fifth long ball of the season, and second in his last three starts. Walls' defensive versatility has paid off early in the campaign, as he's been in the lineup in two-thirds of the team's last 21 games while playing a combination of second base, shortstop and third base. In addition to his power production, Walls has five stolen bases, 19 runs scored, 11 RBI and is hitting .290 across his first 80 plate appearances of the season.

Walls went 4-for five with a solo homer, two RBI, two runs scored and two steals during Sunday's 12-9 loss to the White Sox.

Walls did a little bit of everything Sunday and ended an 0-for-15 slump at the plate with his second multi-hit effort of the season. His big hit of the day came in the fourth after he and Luke Raley hit back-to-back jacks against Mike Clevinger to put Rays ahead 2-1. Walls would notch steals in the sixth and eighth innings and drove in his second run of the game on a base hit in the ninth. The 26-year-old has struggled to hit for average throughout his young MLB career but could be playing himself into a near everyday role with his hot start to the season. He's now slashing .302/.397/.571 with four homers, 10 RBI, 18 runs, five steals and a 9:14 BB:K over 73 plate appearances. It's multi-positional eligibility certainly makes him an intriguing play in most fantasy formats.

Walls went 0-for-4 with a walk and a stolen base Saturday against the White Sox.

Walls was in the lineup for the fifth time in five games, a surprising trend given the return of Jose Siri. He's prioritized for his defense, and he has only two hits across his last 21 at-bats. Walls' primary contribution for fantasy purposes is his ability on the basepaths, and he has three stolen bases across his last nine games.

Walls went 4-for-5 with a triple, two home runs, four RBI and four runs scored in Tuesday's 10-0 victory over the Reds.

Walls had a massive night Tuesday, homering from each side of the plate while coming a double shy of the cycle in the Rays' blowout victory. The switch-hitting utility infielder has played 10 games for Tampa Bay this season, slashing .351/.429/.730 with seven RBI and 15 runs scored through 37 at-bats. Walls' has gotten the majority of starts at second base against left-handed pitching, and his positional versatility should earn him a fairly regular role in a potent Rays' lineup.

Walls went 1-for-3 with a solo homer during Saturday's 5-2 loss against Toronto.

Walls homer broke up Yusei Kikuchi's shutout in the sixth inning and was his first homer of the 2023 campaign. The slick-fielding infielder should continue to see playing time against southpaws, but his lack of guaranteed playing time along with limited offensive upside don't appear to spell long- or short-term fantasy success.

Walls (elbow) is starting at third base and batting seventh for the Rays on Wednesday against the Red Sox.

Walls hasn't played since last Friday due to tendinitis in his left (non-throwing) elbow, but he's ready to go now. The 26-year-old is 6-for-18 in the early going this season.

Walls (elbow) told reporters that he is available off the bench for Tuesday's game against the Red Sox and could return to the starting lineup as soon as Wednesday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Walls is dealing with tendinitis in his left elbow. The infielder will take a seat to start the game against the Red Sox, but has a good chance of contributing in some capacity before the week ends.

Walls is dealing with some tendinitis in his left elbow, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

It's his non-throwing elbow and he doesn't have any structural damage, so this qualifies as good news. The hope is that Walls will be available to play in a day or two.

Rays manager Kevin Cash told reporters before Sunday's game against the Athletics that Walls' non-throwing elbow has been giving him trouble since Friday, and he'll likely get imaging done Monday, Kristie Ackert of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Walls went 1-for-2 in Friday's win over the A's and hasn't played since. The Rays have Jonathan Aranda on the taxi squad in case they need to place the 26-year-old on the injured list. Until the results of the imaging are announced Walls should be considered day-to-day.

Walls (oblique) will serve as the Rays' designated hitter and No. 3 batter Thursday in a split-squad Grapefruit League game against Atlanta, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Walls is making his spring debut Thursday after he reported to camp battling an oblique strain that has prompted the Rays to bring him along slowly in workouts. The Rays will ease Walls back into the lineup in a non-defensive role, and he could be limited to DH duties for at least a couple more days before he gets the green light to make a start in the infield. Manager Kevin Cash has said that he anticipates Walls being ready to go for Opening Day, but that will be contingent on Walls avoiding any setbacks with the oblique during Grapefruit League play.

The Rays are targeting a return for Walls (oblique) on Thursday, Kristie Ackert of the New York Daily News reports.

Walls has been out of action since the beginning of spring training with an oblique strain. The Rays and manager Kevin Cash have insisted that the infielder would be ready for the start of the regular season, and a return to the Grapefruit League lineup two weeks before the start of the campaign seems to make that likely. Walls will likely serve as a utility infielder in 2023, and his role won't have much fantasy relevance.

Rays manager Kevin Cash said Tuesday that he still anticipates Walls (oblique) being ready to go for Opening Day, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. "As of right now, I'm not worried about 'Wallsy.' I'm confident he'll be ready," Cash said.

Walls has been sidelined since the beginning of spring training with an oblique strain, but Cash and the Rays' training staff have apparently noticed enough progress from the infielder to become convinced that he's on track for the start of the regular season. Cash didn't specify where exactly Walls stands in his recovery, however, and the 26-year-old will almost certainly need to get at-bats in a handful of Grapefruit League games or minor-league exhibitions before he's formally cleared for Opening Day. Walls started in 122 of his 142 appearances for Tampa Bay in 2022 but is likely to serve as more of a short-side platoon option/utility man in the infield when all of Yandy Diaz, Wander Franco, Brandon Lowe and Isaac Paredes are available.

Walls (oblique) resumed light baseball activities Thursday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Walls has been dealing with a strained oblique since the start of camp but is "progressing well," Rays manager Kevin Cash said Thursday. It sounds like he probably has a ways to go before being cleared for game action, though.

Walls has been sidelined at the start of spring camp with an oblique injury, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

The infielder has not been able to participate in Grapefruit League activities while dealing with the injury. Walls is expected to serve as a backup infielder with Tampa Bay, and hit just .172.268/.285 with eight homers and 10 steals over 466 plate appearances across 142 games with the Rays. There should be further updates on Walls' status as the spring progresses.

Walls will be on the bench for Game 2 of the AL Wild Card Series against the Guardians on Saturday.

The light-hitting infielder started at second base in Game 1 but failed to record any of the Rays' three hits and was eventually lifted for a pinch-hitter. Tampa Bay will try to get a bit more offense going with their Game 2 alignment. Isaac Paredes will start at second base, leaving Walls to serve as nothing more than a potential defensive replacement.

Walls is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Red Sox, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

The newly recalled Vidal Brujan will get a start at the keystone while Walls rests after making three straight starts out of the middle infield. With Brandon Lowe (back) done for the season, Walls is poised to serve as the Rays' primary second baseman for what's left of the regular season and for the duration of Tampa Bay's playoff run.

Walls went 1-for-4 with a solo home run and two runs scored Friday against the Astros.

Walls was in the lineup for the fourth time in the Rays' last five games, and he tallied his eighth home run of the season in the eighth inning against Phil Maton. He has tallied a home run and a stolen base with four runs scored in that same five-game span. Walls also has two home runs, three stolen bases and 12 runs scored across 23 games in September, though he's hit just .185,

Walls is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Guardians, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.

Walls has a .561 OPS through 21 games in September and will head to the bench for Thursday's series finale. Jonathan Aranda will step in at the keystone and bat leadoff.

Walls went 1-for-4 with a stolen base and a run scored Tuesday against the Guardians.

Walls reached base on a one-out single in the second inning and stole second base. He has 10 steals on the season, three of which have come since Sept. 7. Walls has struggled otherwise, maintaining just a .173/.264/.281 line with seven home runs and 51 runs scored across 445 plate appearances on the campaign.

Walls (groin) is starting at second base and hitting ninth Sunday against the Blue Jays.

Walls had been making appearances off the bench this weekend, but this is his first start since Thursday. He is hitting .171 with one home run and two steals in 18 games this month.

Walls (groin) isn't in the lineup Saturday against the Blue Jays, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.

Walls was scratched from Friday's lineup due to right groin tightness, but he appeared off the bench and scored a run. It's not yet clear whether he'll be available off the bench Saturday.

Walls was scratched from Friday's lineup against the Blue Jays due to right groin tightness, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Walls has been on the bench for three of the last four games, and he was removed from Friday's lineup a few hours before the start of the game. The severity of his injury isn't yet clear, but Miles Mastrobuoni will enter the lineup at the keystone and bat seventh.

Walls is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Astros, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Walls closed out the Rays' weekend series with the Rangers by making three consecutive starts out of the middle infield while going 2-for-9 with a home run, a walk, two RBI and two additional runs. Though he'll be on the bench Monday, Walls should see his opportunities pick up following the recent placement of Brandon Lowe (back) on the injured list. Walls will be vying for playing time at the keystone with Jonathan Aranda and Isaac Paredes.

Walls will start at shortstop and bat ninth in Monday's game against the Blue Jays, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Walls will stay in the lineup for the second game in a row, but he's expected to handle more of a utility role for Tampa Bay moving forward now that Wander Franco has returned from the 10-day injured list. However, after starting in all three games of the Rays' weekend series with the Yankees, Franco will get a breather Monday, paving the way for Walls to step in at shortstop. Walls played third base in Sunday's 10-4 loss to New York, going 1-for-4 with an RBI and a run.

Walls went 2-for-3 with one double, one RBI and one steal in Wednesday's win over the Red Sox.

Walls drove in the only run of the game on a fifth-inning single off righty starter Nick Pivetta, in addition to a seventh-inning double off lefty reliever Matt Strahm. The shortstop has had even more trouble than usual generating power in his last 14 games with just one extra-base hit in 45 at-bats. The 26-year-old is serviceable at home slashing .250/.323/.430 in 193 plate appearances compared to .108/.216/.145 in 214 plate appearances away from Tampa Bay.

Walls is not in the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Red Sox.

Walls started the last nine games for the Rays, but he tallied just three hits in 32 at-bats (.094) over that span, so manager Kevin Cash decided to give him a day to clear his head. Yu Chang will start at shortstop in Walls' place.

Walls is not in the starting lineup against the Angels on Thursday, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.

Walls will take a seat after he went 2-for-10 with three RBI and a run scored while starting the first three games of the series. Yu Chang will take over at shortstop and bat eighth in the series finale.

Walls went 2-for-5 with two RBI and a run scored Tuesday against the Angels.

Walls delivered a single in the seventh inning and came around to score in the same frame to account for his production. The effort was only his third-multi hit game since the All-Star break, and Walls has hit just .190 -- he does have a .333 on-base percentage -- with eight RBI and 13 runs scored across 29 games in that span. He figures to remain the Rays' primary shortstop until Wander Franco (wrist) is able to return.

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

Yu Chang will draw the start at shortstop while Walls sits in the series finale. Walls had previously started in each of the Rays' last 11 games while slashing .242/.375/.424 with a home run, three doubles, six runs, four RBI, a stolen base, and perhaps most impressively, a 7:5 BB:K.

Walls went 1-for-2 with a two-run home run in Saturday's 8-2 victory over Baltimore.

Walls launched a two-run shot in the eighth inning that sent Jose Siri home and gave the Rays an 8-2 lead which they would hold for the win. The homer was his sixth of the year and his second this month. While he only picked up one hit, the shortstop reached via walk twice. Walls also avoided a strikeout in the outing, his second such game out of nine this month. He is now batting .185 in August and .172 for the year.

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

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.

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

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 .568 OPS across 247 plate appearances this season, but he has been the regular starting shortstop since Wander Franco (wrist) has been sidelined.

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

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.

Walls is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Guardians.

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.

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

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.

Walls isn't starting Friday against the Orioles.

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.

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

Walls has started all four games at shortstop since Wander Franco (wrist) went down. On Wednesday, he managed to tally 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 gotten continued to find him a regular spot in the starting lineup.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

Walls will be on the bench Monday against the Yankees, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Walls hits the bench after starting 13 games at shortstop. He struggled to a .451 OPS over that stretch, though that wasn't much worse than the .490 OPS he'd managed up to that point. Vidal Brujan will be the shortstop Monday.

Walls went 1-for-4 with a three-run home run Tuesday in the Rays' 4-2 win over the Cardinals in 10 innings.

Walls made his lone hit of the game count, taking Drew VerHagen deep in the bottom of the 10th for a two-out walkoff blast, his third of the season. Now that he's moved past the calf issue that sidelined him for a few days last week, Walls is expected to maintain an everyday role at shortstop while Wander Franco (quadriceps) is on the 10-day injured list.

Walls went 1-for-4 Sunday against the White Sox.

Walls returned from a three-game absence that was caused by a calf issue and hit ninth while starting at shortstop. With Wander Franco (quadriceps) and Brandon Lowe (back) sidelined, Walls should continue to get considerable playing time. However, he'll need to hit better to hold off Isaac Paredes, as Walls has hit just .087 with one RBI and three runs scored across his last 15 games.

Walls (calf) is starting at shortstop and batting ninth Sunday against the White Sox.

He was sidelined for a few days after fouling a ball off his calf. Walls, Vidal Brujan and Isaac Paredes are in a three-way split of the middle infield duties while Wander Franco and Brandon Lowe are on the injured list.

Walls (calf) is not in Saturday's lineup against the White Sox, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Walls was reportedly available off the bench Friday, so that will likely be the case again Saturday. He is still trying to get right after fouling a ball off his calf earlier this week. Vidal Brujan will start at shortstop and bat sixth.

Walls has been limited by a sore right calf but is available off the bench Friday against the White Sox, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

He fouled a ball off his calf earlier this week, which is why he has been absent from the lineup the last two days. Walls' defensive ability and versatility are why he is in the majors, as he is in the midst of a 5-for-70 slump since May 4.

Walls isn't in the lineup for Friday's game against the White Sox, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.

Walls has gone 2-for-15 with a homer, two runs, three walks and four strikeouts over his last five games, but he'll be held out of the lineup for a second straight matchup. Yandy Diaz will shift to first base while Harold Ramirez serves as the designated hitter.

Walls isn't starting Thursday against the Rangers, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Walls started in the last five games, but he'll get a breather after he went 0-for-5 with three strikeouts Wednesday. Yandy Diaz will shift to third base while Harold Ramirez takes over at first.

Walls went 1-for-2 with a solo home run and a walk Sunday against the Yankees.

Walls snapped a 58 at-bat stretch without an extra-base hit by smacking his second homer of the season. He's continued to get consistent playing time at third base with Brandon Lowe (back) sidelined but has hit just .096 with two RBI and five runs scored across his last 23 games. Walls' primary fantasy appeal comes from his speed, as he has managed five stolen bases while being caught once on the campaign.

Walls isn't starting Friday against the Yankees, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.

Walls is in the midst of a slump in which he's hit just .033 with a run, a walk and 10 strikeouts over his last 10 games, and he'll be out of the lineup for the second time in the last three matchups. Yandy Diaz will shift to third base while Harold Ramirez enters the lineup in right field.

Walls is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Marlins, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

With Yandy Diaz (shoulder) returning from a two-game absence to cover third base, Walls will take a seat for the series finale. Even if Diaz ends up seeing most of his starts at the hot corner moving forward, Walls would still have a pathway to playing time at the keystone, where Vidal Brujan hasn't provided much of an impact at the plate while serving as the primary replacement for the injured Brandon Lowe (back).

Walls will hit the bench Friday against Baltimore, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.

Walls sits for the second time in three games, a stretch that follows a run of six straight starts. Yandy Diaz starts at third base Friday, while Wander Franco and Isaac Paredes fill the middle infield spots.

Walls will not start Tuesday's game against the Tigers, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.

Walls has been in a slump at the plate recently, grabbing just two hits while striking out 14 times across his last 11 games. Yandy Diaz starts at third base Tuesday.

Walls has been added to the lineup for Saturday's game against Toronto, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Walls was expected to get a day off Saturday after he was a late addition to Friday's lineup, but he'll join the starting nine after Brandon Lowe (undisclosed) was a late scratch Saturday. Walls will start at the keystone and bat eighth.

Walls isn't starting Saturday against the Blue Jays, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.

Walls was initially slated to get a day off Friday but was a late addition to the lineup after Yandy Diaz was scratched with a non-COVID illness. With Diaz back in action Saturday, Walls will get a breather a day later than expected.

Walls was added to the Friday's lineup against the Blue Jays and will start at third base and bat ninth, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

The 25-year-old was originally absent from Friday's starting ninth, but Yandy Diaz was a late scratch due to an illness. Walls is 1-for-22 two walks, two runs, a stolen bases and nine strikeouts in his past seven contests.

Walls isn't starting Friday against the Blue Jays.

Walls will be out of the lineup for the third time in the last six matchups after hitting just .045 with two runs, a stolen base, two walks and nine strikeouts over his last seven games. Yandy Diaz will shift to the hot corner while Ji-Man Choi starts at first base.

Walls went 1-for-4 with a run scored and a stolen base in Wednesday's 4-2 extra-inning win over the Angels.

The 25-year-old continues to get regular playing time, primarily at third base, but Walls hasn't been able to do much with it. He's slashing .189/.310/.297 through 87 plate appearances, and while his five steals on the season are useful, they come with only one homer, three RBI and eight runs.

Walls isn't starting Monday against the Angels, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.

Walls has gone 0-for-15 with a run, a walk and eight strikeouts over his last four games, and he'll be out of the lineup for the second time in the last three matchups. Yandy Diaz will shift to third base while Brett Phillips enters the lineup in right field.

Walls will sit Saturday against Seattle, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.

Walls hits the bench after starting 10 straight games, a stretch in which he hit just .143/.231/.286. Isaac Paredes will take over at the hot corner.

Walls will start at shortstop and bat sixth in Sunday's game against the Twins.

He'll be filling at shortstop for the first time since April 18 after Wander Franco was a late scratch from the lineup due to right hamstring tightness. Even if Franco's injury results in only a one-game absence, Walls is expected to see his starting opportunities grow over the next week after Ji-Man Choi (elbow) was placed on the injured list Sunday. While Choi is out of commission, Yandy Diaz is expected to see more work at first base, which should open up more reps at the hot corner for Walls.

Walls went 0-for-1 with two walks, a stolen base and a run scored Friday against the Twins.

Walls has started three consecutive games at third base with Ji-Man Choi (elbow) sidelined, which has in turn shifted Yandy Diaz to first base. He has only one hit in 10 plate appearances in that span, though he's also earned three free passes. On Friday, Walls led off the second inning with a walk and proceeded to steal second base -- his fourth swipe of the season. Once Choi is able to retake the field, Walls will likely return to a super-utility role along the Rays' infield.

Walls is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Mariners, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Walls had seen an uptick in playing time recently with starts in five of the Rays' previous six games, but he'll likely move into more of a utility role following corner infielder Yandy Diaz's return Sunday from the COVID-19 injured list. With Diaz and Wander Franco typically starting on the left side of the infield when the Rays oppose right-handed pitching, the righty-hitting Walls will likely see most of his opportunities against left-handed pitching. On those occasions, Diaz typically moves across the diamond to replace the lefty-hitting Ji-Man Choi at first base.

Walls went 2-for-3 with a stolen base Wednesday against the Cubs.

Walls has earned starts in four of the last five games, and he has delivered multiple hits in each of the last two. After leading off the fourth inning with a base knock, Walls stole second base but was ultimately stranded. Walls has made multiple appearances at second and third base as well as shortstop early this season, and his ability to play across the infield could help him find significant playing time despite not having a regular spot in the lineup.

Walls went 0-for-3 with three strikeouts and a stolen base Saturday against the White Sox.

Walls drew the start at shortstop Saturday, as Wander Franco was in the lineup as the designated hitter. He was hit by a pitch in his opening plate appearance, and subsequently swiped second base to record his first steal of the campaign. That was only good news for Walls in the contest, as he struck out in his remaining three at-bats -- including for the final out of the game.

Walls will start at third base and bat ninth in Thursday's game against the Athletics, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Walls will pick up his third start in four games, but he still looks to be a short-side platoon player who plays only occasionally against right-handers. With southpaw Cole Irvin on the mound for Oakland on Thursday, Walls will enter the lineup as an indirect replacement for the lefty-hitting Ji-Man Choi.

Walls is not in the lineup Sunday against the Orioles.

Walls has been out of the lineup for two of the team's first three games of the season. It appears that his primary competition for playing time will come from Yandy Diaz and Harold Ramirez, both of whom are starting Sunday.

Walls will be on the bench for Friday's Opening Day game against the Orioles, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.

Walls is a switch hitter who performed nearly identically against righties and lefties in his 54-game debut last year. He'll hit the bench here against lefty John Means, with Yandy Diaz sliding to third base and Harold Ramirez starting at first, though it's too early to say whether that will be the Rays' default plan against every southpaw.

The Rays optioned Walls to Triple-A Durham on Friday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Walls hit .205 with no extra-base hits and two RBI after being called up at the start of September, and now he loses his roster spot as Wander Franco (hamstring) returns from the injured list. Barring other injuries on the big-league roster, it's unlikely Walls gets called up again this year, and a spot on Tampa Bay's ALDS roster seems similarly unrealistic.

Walls is not starting Tuesday against the Blue Jays, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.

The infielder singled and scored while starting at shortstop in Monday's win, but he'll retreat back to the bench for Game 2 of the series. Joey Wendle draws the start at shortstop while Yandy Diaz mans the hot corner Tuesday.

Walls (illness) went 1-for-4 with a run during a win over the Blue Jays on Monday in his return from a one-game absence.

The rookie also struck out on all three occasions in which he made an out, underscoring how much of a work in progress he still is against big-league arms. Walls hasn't generated an extra-base hit in his last 19 games at the major-league level, either, but the reps he's logging against the highest caliber of pitching is likely to pay off down the line.

Walls (illness) will start Monday's game against Toronto, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.

Walls was scratched Saturday due to illness and didn't play in Sunday's contest, but his illness evidently wasn't a particularly severe one, as he's already set to return to action. He'll bat eighth and play shortstop.

Walls (illness) is out of the lineup Sunday against the Tigers, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Walls was scratched from Saturday's lineup due to an illness, and he'll remain on the bench for Sunday's contest. The 25-year-old is apparently dealing with a non-COVID-19 illness and should be considered day-to-day. Joey Wendel will remain at shortstop while Yandy Diaz starts at the hot corner.

Walls was scratched from the lineup for Saturday's game against the Tigers due to illness, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Walls hasn't been placed on the COVID-19 injured list, so there's yet to be any indication that this is anything other than a normal sickness. Joey Wendle will take over at shortstop.

Walls went 1-for-3 with two walks and a run in an extra-inning win over the Tigers on Friday.

The rookie was able to make an impact through some solid plate discipline, reaching safely for the fifth time in his last six major-league starts overall. Walls boasts a .385 on-base percentage that's largely the byproduct of a 19.2 percent walk rate over the last eight games overall, a sample that also includes a cameo as a defensive replacement where he didn't log a plate appearance and a hitless pinch-hit at-bat.

Walls isn't in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Tigers, radio broadcaster Steve Carney reports.

Walls went 1-for-3 with a run and a strikeout Wednesday but will be out of the lineup for the second time in the last three games. Joey Wendle will shift to shortstop while Yandy Diaz starts at third base.

Walls is not starting Tuesday against the Blue Jays, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Walls has gone 2-for-9 with three walks, a run scored and a stolen base while starting the previous three games after being recalled Saturday. Joey Wendle shifts to shortstop Tuesday as Yandy Diaz slots in at the hot corner.

Walls, who went 0-for-3 with two walks in an extra-innings loss to the Tigers on Sunday, is 2-for-6 with three base on balls, a stolen base and a run in his first two games since being recalled from Triple-A Durham.

Walls was recalled from the Bulls prior to Saturday's game versus Detroit, a 7-2 win for the Rays in which he went 2-for-3 with a walk, a steal and a run in while starting at shortstop for Wander Franco (hamstring). Walls still carries just a .209/.316/.306 slash line in the majors this season, but his diverse production over the small weekend sample offers some hope that he may be starting to get a better handle on big-league arms.

Walls was recalled from Triple-A Durham prior to Saturday's game against the White Sox, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Wander Franco (hamstring strain) will likely miss at least a couple weeks, so Walls should play pretty regularly at shortstop in the short term. He is slashing .255/.389/.471 with eight home runs and nine steals in 45 games at Triple-A, but that success has not carried over in the majors, where he is slashing .203/.301/.305 in 147 plate appearances.

Walls was optioned to Triple-A Durham on Tuesday, Steve Carney of Sports Radio 620 WDAE reports.

Walls had been back with the big-league squad since the start of September but went just 2-for-15 at the plate in five games, dropping his season slash line to .203/.301/.305 across 147 plate appearances. He'll head to the minors as the Rays recall reliever Louis Head.

Walls is 1-for-6 with two strikeouts in his first two games since being promoted from Triple-A Durham on Wednesday.

Walls first taste of big-league action came earlier this season, when he posted a .200/.311/.305 slash line with with eight doubles, a home run, 13 RBI and three stolen bases across 38 games. The rookie will apparently have the benefit of further honing his craft throughout September, so he should have a solid amount of opportunities to overcome the slow start to his latest big-league stint.

Walls was recalled from Triple-A Durham on Wednesday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Walls got off to a slow start after the All-Star break and went 1-for-15 with a double, an RBI and two walks across six games. However, he fared slightly better since returning to the minors in late July, as he slashed .224/.355/.469 with six homers, 26 runs, 15 RBI and six stolen bases across 29 games. Walls will slot into a backup role at shortstop behind Wander Franco.

The Rays optioned Walls to Triple-A Durham on Saturday, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.

The rookie has contributed little offensively of late, going 1-for-15 with a pair of walks since the All-Star break. With a bullpen game Saturday, Tampa Bay needed additional pitching depth, getting it by recalling Sean Poppen in a corresponding move. It's unclear whether Walls will be recalled following Saturday's contest, or if he'll remain in Durham for the time being to get more consistent playing time and continue developing.

Walls is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Orioles, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

The promotions of prospects Wander Franco and Vidal Brujan have most negatively affected Joey Wendle and Walls, the latter of whom will sit for the second time in four games. Walls' excellent glove at shortstop should continue to lock him into at least a part-time job, but he'll need to show improvement at the dish in order to see his role grow. Over his last five starts, Walls has gone 1-for-15 with five strikeouts, dropping his batting average to .216.

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

With six starts in the Rays' last seven games, Walls looks to have an edge on the top job at shortstop, but Tampa Bay's ample depth in the infield means that the rookie will likely sit at least once a week. Wander Franco will fill in at shortstop Sunday in place of Walls, who has opened his big-league career with a .231/.333/.356 slash line, one home run and three stolen bases through his first 121 plate appearances.

Walls went 2-for-4 with two doubles, a run scored and two RBI in Friday's 7-1 win over the Blue Jays.

The rookie shortstop ripped two-baggers against Alek Manoah in the fourth inning and Jacob Barnes in the seventh, with the latter driving in the final runs of the night for the Rays. Walls has started four of the last five games despite the presence of Wander Franco, going 5-for-14 with three doubles and five RBI, and his glove could ensure him steady playing time in the second half even if he never emerges as a consistent threat at the plate.

Walls (wrist) was reinstated from the 10-day injured list Saturday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Walls had been dealing with right wrist tendinitis since June 24, but he'll be back in action after spending the minimum of 10 days on the injured list. While the 24-year-old doesn't have as clear of a path toward playing time after Wander Franco was called up last week, Franco is able to play at multiple positions, so Walls could still see his fair share of time at shortstop. Across 18 games in June prior to his injury, he slashed .232/.338/.357 with a home run, four doubles, five RBI, four runs and three stolen bases.

The Rays placed Walls on the 10-day injured list Thursday with right wrist tendinitis, Adam Berry of MLB.com reports.

Walls was scratched prior to Wednesday's 8-2 win over the Red Sox with the wrist issue, which was believed to be only a minor concern before he surprisingly landed on the IL a day later. His move off the active roster at least temporarily clears up the logjam in the Rays infield that was created when top prospect Wander Franco was promoted to the big leagues earlier this week. While Walls is on the shelf, Franco should see most of the starts at shortstop, freeing up second base and third base for Brandon Lowe and Joey Wendle, respectively.

Walls was scratched from Wednesday's lineup against the Red Sox with right wrist soreness, Adam Berry of MLB.com reports.

Walls was penciled in to start and shortstop and bat eighth, but he's now absent from the starting nine due to the wrist issue. He should be considered day-to-day for the time being. Brett Phillips entered the lineup in his place.

Walls is out of the lineup Sunday against the Mariners, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Walls started the past three games and will receive the day off in the series finale. Joey Wendle will shift to shortstop while Yandy Diaz starts at the hot corner.

Walls isn't starting Wednesday's game against the White Sox, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Walls went 1-for-5 with a double, a run, two walks and a strikeout across the last two games. Joey Wendle will shift to shortstop and bat sixth.

Walls went 3-for-4 with two RBI, a stolen base and a run scored in Sunday's 7-1 win over Baltimore.

All three of the shortstop's hits were singles. Walls also stole second and scored on a Yandy Diaz single in the third inning, then followed up with a two-RBI single in the fourth. Through 71 plate appearances, Walls is slashing .250/.366/.367 with a home run, seven RBI, eight runs scored and three steals. The rookie is more known for speed than power, but his fantasy impact is limited since he frequently hits in the bottom half of the order.

Walls went 1-for-4 with a solo home run, a stolen base and a walk in Wednesday's extra-innings loss to Washington.

The shortstop enjoyed a memorable moment in the seventh inning, going deep to right field for his first major-league homer. Walls also contributed a stolen base following a fourth-inning walk. Speed is more of his game -- Walls has stolen as many as 31 bases in a single minor-league season but has topped out at 10 homers -- so fantasy managers looking to roster him should frame their expectations accordingly.

Walls went 3-for-5 with a double and two RBI in Sunday's win over the Rangers.

Walls have been enduring some expected struggles in his first taste of big-league pitching, but he seems to be trending in the right direction of late and has recorded at least one knock in four of his last five games. Plus, this was his first multi-hit game since his big-league debut May 22. The shortstop is hitting .262 with a .737 OPS on the season.

Walls, who went 1-for-3 with a walk in a loss to the Rangers on Friday, is hitting just .158 (3-for-19) with an RBI, five walks, seven strikeouts, a steal and two runs over his last eight games overall.

The rookie has also struck out at a 29.7 percent clip during that sample, as he begins to encounter some of the expected struggles against big-league arms one would expect in even an elite prospect's first foray versus big-league arms. Nevertheless, Walls' prospects remain bright, and his impressive .357 on-base percentage is largely a byproduct of an encouraging level of patience at the plate that's helped generate a 19.0 percent walk rate.

Walls is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Yankees, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Joey Wendle steps in at shortstop for Walls, who finds himself on the bench for the second time in four games. The rookie has gotten off to a modest start to his big-league career, batting .200 with two extra-base hits (both doubles), five runs and two RBI through his first nine games.

Walls isn't starting Saturday's game against the Phillies, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Walls will be out of the lineup for the second time in the last three games after he went 1-for-3 with an RBI and a walk Thursday. Joey Wendle will shift to shortstop while Yandy Diaz starts at third base.

Walls is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Royals, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Walls will head to the bench for the first time since being promoted from Triple-A Durham on Saturday. Joey Wendle will check in at shortstop in place of Walls, who has gotten off to a 4-for-14 start to his big-league career.

Walls, who drove in a run with a bases-loaded walk, drew another base on balls and scored two runs over six plate appearances in an extra-innings win over the Blue Jays on Monday, has reached safely in all three of his games so far since being summoned from Triple-A Durham on Saturday.

The rookie also struck out three times Monday, a reminder that he still has a ways to go before mastering big-league arms. Nevertheless, there's no question he's impressed early, lacing a pair of doubles and scoring three runs overall while drawing three straight starts at shortstop.

Walls will start at shortstop and bat eighth Sunday against the Blue Jays, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Walls will be awarded a second straight start after he went 2-for-4 with a pair of doubles and a run scored in his MLB debut Saturday in the Rays' 3-1 win. With Willy Adames now in Milwaukee, the right-handed Walls should at least serve as a short-side platoon option at shortstop, and it wouldn't be surprising if the Rays gave him a look as a full-time player.

Walls was called up as expected Saturday and will bat eighth and play shortstop in his major-league debut against the Blue Jays, Adam Berry of MLB.com reports.

Walls isn't necessarily the Rays' shortstop of the future, as that honor belongs to the league's consensus number one prospect Wander Franco, but he's the one who will get the first crack at the job after the Rays dealt Willy Adames to the Brewers on Friday. Walls is a fine prospect in his own right, albeit not at Franco's level, with the potential to make a good amount of contact while playing strong defense. He's hit .279/.369/.417 with a strong combination of a 12.5 percent walk rate and 18.8 percent walk rate in 276 career minor-league games.

Walls will be called up from Triple-A Durham on Saturday after the Rays traded Willy Adames to the Brewers, Adam Berry of MLB.com reports.

The 24-year-old is poised to take over as Tampa Bay's starting shortstop following the departure of Adames on Friday. Walls was off to a strong start at Triple-A this season with a .327/.468/.490 slash line in 14 games. He may not have a significant leash to secure the starting role with top prospect Wander Franco still waiting for his opportunity.

The Rays optioned Walls to their minor-league camp Tuesday.

The switch-hitting infielder will likely report to the Rays' affiliate in Durham when the Triple-A East season gets underway in May. In his last minor-league season in 2019, Walls split time between High-A Charlotte and Double-A Montgomery, slashing .270/.343/.452 with 10 home runs and 28 stolen bases.

Walls' contract was purchased by the Rays on Friday, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.

Walls is a classic Rays player, as he is known for his control of the strike zone and ability to play multiple infield positions. He has not played above Double-A, but after a summer at the alternate training site, he is presumably poised to make his MLB debut sometime in 2021.