Walker closer to return to M’s after pain-free sim game

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PITTSBURGH — Taijuan Walker took a big step toward rejoining the Mariners’ rotation on Wednesday by throwing three pain-free innings in a simulated game at PNC Park prior to Seattle’s series finale with the Pirates.

The 23-year-old right-hander has spent the past three weeks on the 15-day disabled list trying to find relief from the tendinitis that has been barking in the arch of his right foot every time he’s pitched in a game since mid-June.

“It definitely gives me a lot of confidence where I can go out there and not really think about it,” Walker said after throwing 45 pitches to teammate Luis Sardinas in the practice-game setting. “The last couple days have been really good.”

Walker will have another lighter throwing session on Friday, and if all feels right, he will make a Minor League rehab start on Monday. The Mariners haven’t settled that yet, but Triple-A Tacoma plays at home against Albuquerque that night, so that would seem the likely destination.

That opens the potential of Walker rejoining the Mariners as early as Aug. 6 against the Angels, but manager Scott Servais cautioned against …

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