The Mariners had an harm scare this night as catcher Mitch Garver was strike within the wrist by a pitch from Twins right-hander Joe Ryan throughout this afternoon’s recreation and exited with what Seattle termed a proper wrist contusion. As famous by MLB.com’s Daniel Kramer, supervisor Scott Servais instructed reporters after the sport that x-rays on Garver’s wrist got here again unfavourable, however that the membership doesn’t plan on making a choice about subsequent steps relating to the 33-year-old till Tuesday given the membership has tomorrow off.
Garver got here to the Mariners on a two-year, $26MM deal over the offseason. The longtime catcher had regularly seen increasingly more of his time come at DH throughout his tenure with the Rangers and joined Seattle ticketed for an everyday function at DH whereas sometimes spelling Raleigh behind the plate as nicely. Issues haven’t precisely gone based on plan for Garver half a season into his Mariners tenure, nonetheless, as he’s slashed simply .172/.291/.353 in 71 video games this 12 months. Whereas he’s hit for respectable energy and walked at a wonderful 13.5% clip, the mix of an enormous 30.9% strikeout price and his deflated .214 BABIP have left him beneath common total with a wRC+ of simply 90. That’s definitely satisfactory manufacturing from a catcher, however much more is to be anticipated from a participant who is actually being paid to be a full-time DH.
The potential harm comes as a very irritating time for the Mariners as Garver had begun to warmth up within the month of June. In 91 journeys to the plate this month getting into play tonight, Garver had slashed a way more palatable .187/.319/.453 with a 122 wRC+. That improved manufacturing is mostly backed up by strong peripherals, as nicely; Garver’s strikeout price, whereas nonetheless elevated, has dipped to a extra manageable 28.6% this month, and he’s walked at an infinite 16.5% clip. A BABIP of simply .200 means that additional constructive regression may very well be in retailer for Garver, although it now appears potential that must wait relying on how a lot his wrist heals within the coming days.
Even within the occasion that Garver requires only some days off, it’s potential the Mariners will look to make some form of short-term roster transfer. In spite of everything, he and Raleigh are the one two catchers on the membership’s energetic roster, that means the membership may very well be pressured into a troublesome state of affairs if Raleigh have been to get harm whereas Garver is down. The Mariners have Seby Zavala and Michael Perez as depth catching choices at Triple-A, although neither is at the moment on the membership’s 40-man roster.
In additional constructive Mariners information, a pair of key relievers look like making their approach in direction of a return to motion. Adam Jude of The Seattle Occasions relayed not too long ago that, based on GM Justin Hollander, right-hander Gregory Santos is scheduled to start a rehab project on Tuesday. In the meantime, MLB.com’s Damage Tracker notes that lefty Gabe Speier is about to throw a bullpen session that very same day.
The approaching return of the 2 hurlers is good news for the Mariners. Santos, particularly, figured to deal with late-inning duties for the membership alongside nearer Andres Munoz and veteran set-up man Ryne Stanek after the membership swung a commerce with the White Sox to amass him simply earlier than the beginning of Spring Coaching. Sadly, that deal has but to bear fruit as Santos has been sidelined your complete season thus far after struggling a lat pressure in mid-March. He may show to be an impactful arm for the Mariners in leverage conditions as soon as wholesome sufficient to take the mound within the huge leagues, nonetheless, as proven by his 3.39 ERA and a pair of.65 FIP in 66 1/3 innings of labor with Chicago final 12 months.
As for Speier, the lefty has missed the previous month with rotator cuff points however was within the midst of a irritating 2024 season previous to his harm. In 22 appearances with Seattle this 12 months, the lefty has struggled to a 6.06 ERA despite peripheral numbers that stay largely strong. Speier has struck out a robust 29.3% of batters confronted this 12 months however has handled some poor fortune on batted balls and sequencing, as demonstrated by an elevated .325 BABIP allowed and an unsustainable strand price of simply 61.3%, far beneath the standard 70-75% vary for the common hurler.
Not all of Speier’s struggles have been self-inflicted, after all; the lefty has allowed free passes at a worrying 13.3% clip this 12 months, an enormous change from the 5.1% stroll price he posted with the Mariners final season when he posted a 3.79 ERA and three.35 FIP in 69 video games. The Mariners will certainly be hoping that’s the model of Speier they get again as soon as he’s wholesome sufficient to return, which MLB.com suggests is unlikely to be till after the All Star break.
