MINNEAPOLIS — The Seattle Mariners, effectively, played Thursday with just 22 players because second baseman Robinson Cano and first baseman Logan Morrison remain sidelined by what are believed to be minor ailments.
Cano suffered a strained abdominal muscle Tuesday while diving for a ball. He did little but rest Wednesday and Thursday but is expected to test his recovery Friday by taking batting practice.
“It was on a play where I dove to my left,” he said. “I went home and, at 4 or 5 in the morning, I felt tight. I wasn’t that concerned. But then when I tried to run (later Wednesday), I could feel it.”
Morrison is battling a bruised left thumb that forced him to leave Wednesday’s 8-2 loss to Arizona. He is also expected to be available at some point in the weekend series against the Twins.
Furbush update
Lefty reliever Charlie Furbush took another step toward returning to active duty by throwing a 25-pitch bullpen workout. He has been out since July 7 because of biceps tendinitis.
“It was definitely another step in the right direction,” he said. “I threw a ton of strikes today. That was encouraging. Put on velo on there toward the end.”
Tentative plans call for Furbush to throw another bullpen workout prior to Sunday’s series finale. Barring setbacks, he could then be ready to head to the minors for what projects as a brief rehab assignment.
Numbers crunching
The Mariners entered Thursday’s series opener with a 25-26 road record, which is notably better than their 22-31 record at Safeco Field.
But…
The have a better batting average at home (.250 vs. 227 on the road), and a lower ERA at home (3.67 vs. 4.27 on the road).
Many things about this club don’t sense.
Minor details
Hi-A Bakersfield outfielder Tyler O’Neill has been on a tear since returning from duty with Canada in the Pan American Games.
O’Neill, 20, was 12-for-22 with four doubles, five homers and 12 RBI in six games before an 0-for-4 effort in Wednesday’s 10-3 loss to High Desert (Rangers).
The recent surge boosted O’Neill’s season totals to 21 homers and 57 RBI in 72 games. He also has a .259/.298/.539 slash (batting average/on-base percentage/slugging percentage).
The Mariners selected O’Neill in the third round of the 2013 draft.
—First baseman/DH Jesus Montero is 17-for-36 with seven extra-base hits and eight RBI in nine games since his return to Triple-A Tacoma after a 10-day stay in the big leagues.
Looking back
It was 17 years ago Friday — July 31, 1998 — that the Mariners traded future Hall of Fame left-hander Randy Johnson to Houston for infielder Carlos Guillen, pitcher Freddy Garcia and a player to be named later.
The deal was completed on Oct. 1, 1998 when the Mariners received pitcher John Halama.
Johnson was 130-74 with a 3.42 ERA in 274 games over 10 seasons with the Mariners. He pitched more games, had more victories (and more losses), more strikeouts and more shutouts with the Mariners than any other club.
Short hops
Nelson Cruz’s 26 homers are already the second-highest total by a Mariners player in the last six seasons. Raul Ibanez had 29 in 2013. The last Mariner to reach 30 was Russell Branyan, with 31, in 2009. … Only four Mariners have hit more than 26 homers prior to Aug. 1. Ken Griffey Jr. did it six times. Alex Rodriguez, Jay Buhner and Bret Boone each did it once. … Seth Smith entered the series with a 1.099 OPS (on-base percentage plus slugging percentage) in his career against the Twins. That’s the fifth-highest career total for any opponent since the Twins arrived in 1961 from Washington.
On tap
The Mariners and Twins continue their four-game series at 5:10 p.m. Pacific time Friday at Target Field. Right-hander Taijuan Walker (7-7, 5.03) will face Minnesota lefty Tommy Milone (5-2, 3.58).
The game can be seen on Root Sports Northwest and heard on 710 ESPN.
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