M’s notebook: Paxton to disabled list with finger strain

SEATTLE — Just as the Seattle Mariners were, finally, starting to show some traction — Thursday’s loss aside — they learned Friday that left-hander James Paxton requires time on the disabled list.

Paxton was diagnosed with a strained tendon in the middle finger of his pitching hand after exiting Thursday’s 5-3 loss to Cleveland in the fifth inning because of what was initially characterized as discomfort.

Manager Lloyd McClendon said it isn’t yet known how long Paxton will be sidelined, but club officials are already bracing for an extended absence.

Paxton’s injury comes at a time when the Mariners are already compensating for an injury to right-hander Hisashi Iwakuma, who isn’t expected to return from a strained back muscle until after the All-Star break.

“It’s a tough loss, obviously,” McClendon said. “To think we’ve lost our No. 2 and No. 3 starters, that’s tough. But in this game, nobody feels sorry for you. You have to make the adjustments.

“You have to take the stand that the next man up, let’s go. We just have to figure out who the next man is.”

Paxton said the injury occurred on a pitch Thursday in the fifth inning to Brandon Moss.

“My middle finger just kind of got tight between my second and third knuckle,” he said. “I tried to throw the next pitch, and something didn’t feel right. That’s when they came and got me.”

Paxton underwent an examination early Friday with Dr. Edward Khalfayan, the club’s medical director. Khalfayan was scheduled to arrive later Friday at Safeco Field to discuss the findings.

“We’re going to go over it,” Paxton said, “and make a plan going forward.”

The Mariners don’t need a replacement for Paxton in their rotation until Tuesday’s game against the New York Yankees. Accordingly, they recalled right-handed reliever Dominic Leone from Triple-A Tacoma.

Leone, 23, returns after working four scoreless innings over his last three appearances for the Rainiers. He was 0-3 with a 5.40 ERA earlier this season for the Mariners in eight appearances.

A move for a rotation replacement likely won’t be made until Tuesday. The leading candidates at Tacoma appear to be left-hander Mike Montgomery and veteran right-hander Justin Germano.

The Mariners acquired Montgomery, 25, in a March 31 trade with Tampa Bay for right-hander Erasmo Ramirez.

Montgomery is 4-3 with a 3.74 ERA in nine starts for the Rainiers. He is on the 40-man roster, but he has never pitched in the big leagues.

Germano, 32, is a nine-year veteran with seven clubs whom the Mariners signed last December to a minor-league deal. He is 3-2 with a 3.02 ERA in 12 games at Tacoma, including six starts.

Promoting Germano would require the Mariners to make a corresponding space-clearing move on their 40-man roster.

Paxton is 3-3 with a 3.70 ERA in 10 starts, but he had pitched particularly well lately.

“He’s been very dominant,” McClendon said. “(Thursday’s) ballgame could have been very different if he fielded a ground ball. He’s pitched extremely well. He’s going to be missed.”

Beimel on leave

Veteran lefty reliever Joe Beimel is expected to miss a day or two in order to attend his son’s graduation from high school.

The Mariners placed Beimel on the restricted list in order to recall lefty reliever Lucas Luetge from Tacoma. Luetge was in uniform for Friday’s game against the Indians.

Beimel pitched a season-high 21/3 innings Thursday against the Indians, which meant he was likely to require at least a day to recover before pitching again. He has a 2.79 ERA this season in 10 outings.

Luetge, 28, was recalled this season for the second time. He pitched 21/3 scoreless innings on April 25 against Minnesota in his only big-league appearance this season. He is 0-1 with a 5.06 ERA in 14 game at Tacoma.

Cano still slowed

Second baseman Robinson Cano wasn’t in the starting lineup for a second straight game because of an ongoing battle with flu-like symptoms.

Willie Bloomquist started at second base, while Brad Miller, who started Thursday at second base, shifted from second to shortstop to replace slumping Chris Taylor.

Cano entered Thursday’s game as a pinch-hitter in the ninth inning. He flied out to right.

Charlie zeroing in

Lefty reliever Charlie Furbush has stranded each of his 11 inherited runners this season through Thursday and has not permitted a run in 18 of his 19 appearances.

Furbush entered the weekend with a streak of 11 scoreless outings since permitting three runs in an April 21 loss at Houston. Overall, he has allowed just two earned runs and five hits in 11 innings for a 1.64 ERA.

Guti on a roll

The Mariners are already operating a with an extra position player on their roster, but veteran Franklin Gutierrez continues to make a push for promotion at Triple-A Tacoma.

Gutierrez entered the weekend on a 10-for-22 surge over his last six games, which boosted his average to .330 through 30 games for the Rainiers. He also had a .444 on-base percentage and a .524 slugging percentage.

All or (often) nothing

Only Houston, through Thursday, topped the Mariners in reliance on homers for run production.

The Mariners scored all of their runs in Thursday’s 5-3 loss to Cleveland via homers, which boosted their season percentage to 47.2 percent. The Astros led the majors by scoring 47.4 percent of their runs through homers.

Reliance on homers isn’t necessarily bad, but the Mariners have hit 44 of their 60 homers with nobody on base. No other club had hit more than 38 solo homers.

Minor details

The success of an organization’s farm system isn’t judged merely by wins and losses…but this can’t be good: Each of the Mariners’ top three affiliates started the weekend in last place.

Further, all four full-season affiliates have losing records and were a combined 80-108 (.426).

—Triple-A Tacoma (19-29) trailed first-place Fresno (Astros) by 81/2 games in the Pacific Coast League’s four-team Northern Division.

—Double-A Jackson (20-26) trailed first-place Chattanooga (Twins) by nine games in the Southern League’s four-team Northern Division.

—Hi-A Bakersfield (18-28) trailed first-place Visalia (Diamondbacks) by 131/2 games in the California League’s five-team Northern Division.

—Lo-A Clinton (23-25) is in fifth place in the Midwest League’s seven-team Western Division but trails first-place Quad Cities (Astros) by 11 games.

Looking back

It was 26 years ago Saturday — May 30, 1989 — that Randy Johnson made his debut as a Mariner by holding the Yankees to two runs and six hits over six innings in a 3-2 victory in New York.

Ken Griffey Jr. drove in all three Mariners’ runs with a pair of homers.

On tap

The Mariners and Indians continue their four-game weekend series at 7:10 p.m. Saturday at Safeco Field.

Left-hander Roenis Elias (2-1, 2.56) will face Cleveland right-hander Shaun Marcum (1-0, 6.28). The game can be seen on Root Sports Northwest and heard on 710 ESPN.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Sports

Silvertips’ Andrew Petruk (26) fights for the puck during a game between the Everett Silvertips and the Tri-City Americans at the Angel of the Winds Arena on Sunday, March 24, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Breaking down the Silvertips’ 1st-round playoff series vs. the Giants

Everett is searching for a revenge after a shocking playoff exit against Vancouver two years ago.

Left to right, Arlington’s Samara Morrow, Kamiak’s Bella Hasan, Everett’s Alana Washington, Lake Steven’s Nisa Ellis, Lynnwood’s Aniya Hooker, and Meadowdale’s Gia Powell, pose for a photo at Everett High School on March 24, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
The Herald’s 2023-24 All-Area girls basketball teams

A look at the top prep girls basketball players in the area from the 2023-24 season.

Everett’s Alana Washington poses for a photo at Everett High School on March 24, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
The Herald’s 2023-24 Girls Basketball Player of the Year: Alana Washington

The Everett senior upped her game in the postseason to help the Seagulls overcome injuries and claim their first state trophy in 41 years.

Silvertips players celebrate during a game between the Everett Silvertips and Tri-City Americans at the Angel of the Winds Arena on Sunday, Jan. 21, 2024. The Silvertips won, 5-3. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Silvertips land No. 1 pick, chance to draft generational talent

Landon DuPont is the consensus top pick in next WHL prospects draft. Everett chief operating officer Zoran Rajcic said the team intends to select him.

Dennis Williams, head coach and GM of the Everett Silvertips, shakes hands with an assistant coach at the end of a season opening victory over the Vancouver Giants on Saturday, Sep. 24, 2022, at Angel of the Winds Arena in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Coach, GM Williams leaving Silvertips for Bowling Green State

After seven successful season leading Everett, Dennis Williams is heading back to his alma mater. He’ll stay with the Tips through the WHL playoffs.

Mountlake Terrace’s Jaxon Dubiel talks with head coach Nalin Sood during the 3A boys state basketball game against Todd Beamer on Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024 in Tacoma, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
‘It was just time’: Mountlake Terrace basketball coach Sood steps down

Nalin Sood guided his alma mater to 381 wins and 15 state berths in 24 seasons as head coach. He spent over four decades with the program.

Stanwood High School student athletes during their signing day ceremony. (Courtesy of Stanwood High School)
Local class of 2024 athletes who have signed to play in college

A running list of 2024 high school athletes who are set to compete at the next level.

University of Washington's new men's basketball coach Danny Sprinkle meets the news media, Wednesday, March 27, 2024 in Seattle. (Ken Lambert/The Seattle Times via AP)
Taking over at Washington personal for men’s basketball coach Sprinkle

Danny Sprinkle spoke about his connection to the school during his introductory press conference Wednesday.

X
Prep roundup for Tuesday, March 26

Prep roundup for Tuesday, March 26: (Note for coaches/scorekeepers: To report results… Continue reading

Washington State athletic director Pat Chun, center, watches players on the first day of NCAA college football practice, Friday, Aug. 6, 2021, in Pullman, Wash. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
Washington hires AD Chun away from rival Washington State

UW quickly targeted its in-state rival’s athletic director after Troy Dannen’s sudden departure.

Seattle Mariners' Mitch Haniger hits a single against the San Diego Padres during the fourth inning of a spring training baseball game Monday, March 11, 2024, in Peoria, Ariz. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Why the Mariners could win the AL West, and what could hold them back

Starting pitching, a renovated offense and regression in the AL West are in Seattle’s favor, but injury issues, bullpen concerns and the Houston Astros could be a problem.

X
Vote for The Herald’s Prep Athlete of the Week for March 18-24

The Athlete of the Week nominees for March 18-24. Voting closes at… Continue reading

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.