Ranking the 3 biggest Mets All-Star game snubs

1. Mets pitcher Taijuan Walker

Going into the season I had lost all confidence in Taijuan Walker. He was arguably the worst pitcher in baseball in the second half last season after being an all-star in the first half and I just thought that was it for him. Once Tylor Megill got off to his good start I assumed when Jacob deGrom returned he'd be the odd man out in the rotation.

Things changed. 2021 first half Taijuan Walker is back and better than ever. It's a shame he wasn't chosen as an all-star but he's probably one of the next guys up if there is an injury. He's been that good.

In 15 starts this season, Walker has gone 7-2 with a 2.63 ERA. He's allowed just four home runs in 85.2 innings pitched (0.4 HR/9) and has an ERA+ of 152.

In a season that has seen Jacob deGrom, Max Scherzer, and Tylor Megill all miss significant time, Taijuan Walker has been the Mets most consistent and reliable starter. He has made four starts of at least seven innings pitched with no runs allowed, that's tied for second in all of baseball.

Since May 12th Walker has allowed three runs or fewer in 11 of his 12 starts, pitching to a 2.29 ERA in that stretch. He's really only had one bad start all season and that was when he was working himself back from an injury facing the same opponent for the third straight time.

Clayton Kershaw and Luis Castillo both made the all-star team despite missing significant time. Walker has made four more starts than Kershaw and three more than Castillo. I understand that Castillo has to be in it as the Reds representative but Kershaw does not at all, and there were plenty of pitchers who deserved a nod.

There are always pitchers who pitch too close to the game so they don't end up playing, but Walker certainly got snubbed out of a spot to pitch in the all-star game for the second straight year with the first half he's had. Hopefully, something happens and Taijuan finds his way in Los Angeles next week.