Slumping Mariners second baseman Robinson Cano was given the day off against Tampa Bay starter Chris Archer, against whom Cano is 0-for-13 with four strikeouts in 15 career plate appearances.
Plus, Cano has just four hits in his past 31 at-bats, and went 0-for-4 again on Saturday to drop his season batting average to .239.
Conclusion: He needs a day off. Two days off, actually, with the Mariners off on Monday before they begin a three-game series in Cleveland.
“He’s had a tough homestand,” McClendon said. “(It) gives him a mental break. Hopefully recharge the batteries and be ready to go in Cleveland.”
Cano, McClendon said, was fine with the day off.
“I don’t think anybody complains about not playing against Archer,” McClendon cracked.
Iwakuma throws bullpen
Hisashi Iwakuma, sidelined by a lat strain since April 24, threw another bullpen session — his second — prior to Sunday’s game against the Rays.
Iwakuma was slated for 35 to 45 pitches, McClendon said, and the plan was for him to mix in “everything” in his repertoire.
The right-hander is scheduled to throw another bullpen next week, after which he will be re-evaluated so the Mariners can “see if he’s ready for a (simulated) game,” McClendon said.
From there, McClendon said, it “depends on how the sim game goes. If all goes well, he’ll be ready to go out on rehab.”
Meanwhile, left-handed starter James Paxton, who was placed on the disabled list May 29 with a strained middle finger on his pitching hand, has another five or six days before he will be reevaluated to determine a rehab plan. After he left his start on May 28 with discomfort in his finger, he was sent to the DL and shut down from any throwing for two weeks.
Paxton will not accompany the team to Cleveland for its three-game series beginning Tuesday.
Short hops
Despite injuries to Paxton and Iwakuma, Seattle starting pitchers have posted a 1.88 ERA in their past six starts. “We’ve had two blows to the front end of our rotation,” McClendon said. “Guys have stepped it up and done a nice job for us.” … Logan Morrison extended his hitting streak to 14 games with a single over the head of the second baseman in the ninth inning. … Left-handed reliever Vidal Nuno, who accompanied Mark Trumbo to Seattle in the recent trade that sent Dominic Leone, Welington Castillo and two prospects to Arizona, made his Mariners debut on Sunday. He pitched two-thirds of an inning with a strikeout and allowed a sacrifice fly, though the run was charged to Tom Wilhelmsen.
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