Taylor Walls Out of the Lineup Thursday

What Happened

Taylor Walls, the Tampa Bay Rays' shortstop, was not in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Texas Rangers due to a hamstring injury. Kevin Kiermaier started at shortstop in his place. The Rays have been dealing with multiple injuries of late, with their best player Wander Franco on the IL for most of the year, along with Brandon Lowe, Shane McClanahan, and Nick Anderson.

What it Means

Walls is a key player for the Rays, and his absence will be a blow to their lineup. He is a solid hitter and a good fielder, and he provides a spark at the top of the order. With Kiermaier starting at shortstop, the Rays will lose some defensive range, but they will gain a more experienced player. Kiermaier is a Gold Glove winner, and he has a strong arm. He is also a better hitter than Walls, so the Rays may not lose much offensively with him in the lineup.

What's Next

The Rays will hope that Walls' injury is not serious, and that he will be able to return to the lineup soon. In the meantime, they will need to find a way to replace his production. Kiermaier is a good option at shortstop, but the Rays may also consider moving Yandy Diaz to shortstop and playing Isaac Paredes at third base. Paredes is a good hitter, but he is still developing defensively. The Rays will also need to find a way to replace Walls' speed at the top of the order. Brandon Lowe is a good option, but he is currently on the injured list. The Rays may also consider promoting Vidal Brujan from Triple-A. Brujan is a fast and talented player, but he has not yet had much success in the majors.