DETROIT — Edwin Diaz is about to shift gears in the Seattle Mariners’ bullpen. Oh, he’ll still be the closer in name, but manager Scott Servais is planning a more sabermetric approach — although not necessarily for sabermetric reasons.
“He needs to pitch,” Servais said. “I don’t just want to stick him down there and wait because he’s the closer. He is so young. It may depend on where we are in the game. He hasn’t pitched much lately at all.
“He might go five outs. He might go six outs. In a road game, don’t be shocked if he comes in there in the eighth inning of a tie game. I know it’s not the traditional closer role, but that’s kind of how I see using him.”
Servais’ plan includes using Diaz in high-leverage situations earlier in the game and letting someone else get the final three outs for the save.
“I’m just trying to manage the game,” Servais said. “If it’s a tie game or whatever, just put your best guys out there and extend the game as long as you can. Hopefully, your offense scores, and we have someone to get us the last three outs.
“That may not be Eddie Diaz because we’ve already used him. I want to do that instead of just leaving him down there. You don’t want to not get the game to the 10th inning because you kept your closer fresh by having him just sit there.”
Diaz has pitched just six times this season — and hasn’t been particularly effective, allowing four runs and six hits in 6 2/3 innings for a 5.40 ERA. That includes a “get-work” inning Saturday in a loss at Oakland.
Part of the problem, Servais said, is a lack of consistent work.
“He’s not the 29-, 30-year-old seasoned closer,” Servais said. “He’s 23. When he sits down there for four or five days, it’s hard to go out there and be on top of your game. He doesn’t have all of that experience yet.
“When he goes three or four days and doesn’t pitch, it’s a priority to get him in a game. I hope like heck it’s a tight game and we need him, but if we’re up by five, he may pitch.”
The key factor, Servais said, is not an inclination toward sabermetrics but rather the need for Diaz, at this stage in his career, to get regular work.
“I think all young pitchers are better that way,” Servais said. “If he was 23 years old and in Double-A, that’s how he’d be handled. When you’re in the big leagues, you want to do it a little bit different because it protects you.
“But I want to do what’s best for him and what’s best for the ballclub. He needs to pitch.”
Anticipated roster move
Shortstop Jean Segura is expected to be activated from the disabled list prior to Tuesday’s series opener in Detroit. He missed 12 games while recovering from a strained right hamstring suffered April 10 against Houston at Safeco Field.
Segura batted .313 with 10 hits in 32 at-bats over eight games prior to his injury. He went 1-for-11 in three weekend games at Double-A Arkansas while on a rehab assignment.
The Mariners are likely to clear roster space for Segura by optioning utility infielder Mike Freeman to Triple-A Tacoma. Freeman was 2-for-18 in eight games after being recalled when Segura went on the disabled list.
Segura’s return also means Taylor Motter will return to his role as the roster utilityman. Motter batted .289 in 12 games as the club’s shortstop in Segura’s absence with six doubles, five homers and 12 RBI.
Servais said Sunday that Motter will continue to see regular playing time in a variety of roles.
Looking ahead
Three things to note heading into Tuesday’s pitching matchup between right-hander Felix Hernandez and Detroit right-hander Jordan Zimmermann:
n Hernandez is 9-3 with a 2.48 ERA in 15 career starts against the Tigers, including 5-2 and 3.06 in eight starts at Comerica Park. Zimmermann won his only previous start against the Mariners, which came in 2014 at Safeco Field while he was a member of the Washington Nationals.
n Detroit second baseman Ian Kinsler has four homers in 82 career at-bats against Hernandez. He is batting just .232 (19-for-82) but has 12 walks for a .351 on-base percentage. The King won’t miss injured Miguel Cabrera (11-for-28 with two homers). Cabrera is on the disabled list with a right groin strain.
n Segura is 7-for-16 in his career against Zimmermann. Catcher Carlos Ruiz is 4-for-22.
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