Mariners’ Paxton scratched from scheduled Tuesday start
Published 10:00 pm Monday, August 15, 2016
By Bob Dutton
The News Tribune
ANAHEIM, Calif. — James Paxton’s status is back on hold in terms of rejoining the Seattle Mariners’ rotation.
Paxton was scratched from his scheduled Tuesday start after reporting some forearm soreness prior to Monday’s series opener against the Los Angeles Angels. A trip to the disabled list now looms as a possibility.
“There are still concerns,” manager Scott Servais said. “He feels a little tightness in his forearm. He got smoked the other day. We’re going to do the right thing and give him a little more time.”
Left-hander Ariel Miranda will replace Paxton as the starter for Tuesday’s game. The Mariners list Wednesday’s game as “to be announced,” but it appears to be a choice between right-handers Joe Wieland or Cody Martin.
Wieland started last Friday at Oakland and would be on his regular rest for Wednesday’s game. He gave up six runs and nine hits in five-plus innings in a 6-3 loss after being promoted earlier in the day.
Martin is currently at Triple-A Tacoma but hasn’t pitched since Aug. 10 and compiled a 2.70 ERA earlier this season in five big-league relief appearances.
Paxton was struck in the elbow by a line drive on Aug. 7 in the ninth inning of a 3-1 victory over the Angels at Safeco Field. He appeared to be responding well to treatment and reported no day-after problems Sunday following a Saturday bullpen workout.
“He wants to go,” Servais said. “He wants to take the ball, but we’ve got to do the right thing here…Give him a few more days and see where he’s at.”
Servais admitted that Paxton “could” be placed on the disabled list. Clubs are permitted to backdate injuries a maximum of five days, which means Paxton, if placed on the DL, would miss at least 10 more days.
Paxton is 4-5 with a 3.53 ERA in 13 starts since his May 30 recall from Tacoma but had allowed only five earned runs over 28 1/3 innings in his last four starts.
“It’s challenging,” Servais said, “trying to plug guys in there to keep you in games. Fortunately for us, our bullpen has been very good lately.
“If we can get to those guys in the sixth, seventh, eighth and ninth innings, we’re in pretty good shape. Miranda threw the ball well for us. I feel good about putting him in there.”
Miranda has allowed three runs and 10 hits in seven innings over two appearances, including one start, since the Mariners acquired him from Baltimore in a July 31 trade lefty starter Wade Miley.
