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Beavan to get call for rotation spot over Walker

SEATTLE -- Taijuan Walker's return to the Major Leagues will have to wait a little longer.

The rehabbing right-hander won't be recalled to fill the vacant spot in the starting rotation for Tuesday's game against the Rangers in Arlington. Instead, Seattle will recall righty Blake Beavan from Triple-A Tacoma and send Walker to the Rainiers to make a third rehab start, Mariners manager Lloyd McClendon said Saturday.

Walker, the club's top prospect, was stellar Wednesday in a rehab stint with Double-A Jackson -- allowing three hits with 10 strikeouts and a walk on 85 pitches in five innings -- but McClendon said the club wants to get the 21-year-old's pitch count up before it brings him back to the big leagues. Walker was sidelined by shoulder inflammation all of Spring Training.

"He's progressing well," McClendon said. "We're very pleased with where he is at this point."

Beavan, meanwhile, rebounded from a poor Cactus League performance to go 1-0 with a 2.08 ERA over 13 innings in two starts with Tacoma. He picked up a no-decision in the Rainers' 4-3 win over El Paso on Wednesday, scattering five hits and two runs in six innings while striking out two. In 12 appearances with the Mariners last season, including two starts, Beavan was 0-2 with a 6.13 ERA before a demotion to Tacoma in mid-July.

"Beavan's throwing well," McClendon said. "His last outing was pretty darn good. We just felt he is physically ready to make this start."

Adam Lewis is an associate reporter for MLB.com.
Read More: Seattle Mariners, Taijuan Walker, Blake Beavan