Mariners Await Julio Rodríguez’s Possible Return Versus Giants on Saturday

The Seattle Mariners had anticipated that star center fielder Julio Rodríguez would rejoin the lineup when the team returned from the All-Star break on Friday.

That did not come to pass, but the club is hopeful he will be cleared to play Saturday as their three-game interleague series against the San Francisco Giants resumes in Seattle.

Rodríguez has been on the seven-day concussion injured list since July 3. He sustained the injury when a thrown ball struck the back of his helmet as he began a slide into second base against the Los Angeles Angels the previous day.

On Friday, Rodríguez participated in workouts with the Mariners and intended to take swings in the batting cages.

“If that goes well, we’ll see where he’s at (Saturday) in terms of (if he’s) ready for activation or needs more time,” Mariners general manager Justin Hollander said. “There’s not been a setback or anything. We need to check every box before he gets out here and plays a major league game.

“Obviously you don’t want to mess around with head injuries, and they all sort of come in different forms and feel differently for different guys over a period of time.”

The Mariners, who have dropped six of their last seven games and fallen behind first-place Texas in the American League West, could clearly benefit from Rodríguez’s presence. He is currently batting .259 with 14 home runs and 40 RBIs.

“I think it’s maybe less about what he does and how he kind of responds to it,” Mariners manager Dan Wilson said. “But getting a chance, I think, (Friday) to take some pitches off the (pitching machine) in there, a chance to see some more game-like reps or off the machine. That kind of thing. All of the reports have been good, and he seems ready for all of that. It’s a matter of getting those reps, being OK with it and then responding well and being ready to go.”

Seattle’s offensive struggles persisted Friday in a 7-0 loss to San Francisco.

Giants right-hander Landen Roupp held the Mariners to two hits over seven innings, while Willy Adames hit a grand slam and Bryce Eldridge added a two-run homer for San Francisco.

The victory marked the Giants’ third straight win, matching a season high.

“It’s nice to kind of see the fresh-start attitude and vibe that’s going around,” Giants manager Tony Vitello said. “One thing we’ve struggled with, I think, is that you’ve got great expectations going into the season, and the past can weigh on you a little bit. The future is not here yet, and the past is over and done with. The best thing we can do is focus on today. It’d be nice to build a little momentum.”

San Francisco will aim to keep that momentum alive Saturday by sending All-Star Logan Webb (5-7, 3.86 ERA) to the mound against Mariners right-hander Bryan Woo (7-6, 4.23), a Bay Area native.

Webb has lost his last two starts, versus Colorado and Toronto, surrendering 12 runs on 16 hits across 10 innings. He is 0-1 with a 5.29 ERA in three career appearances against Seattle.

Woo received a no-decision in his most recent outing July 7 at Miami, allowing four runs (three earned) over five innings in Seattle’s 6-5, 10-inning defeat. He is 6-0 with a 2.10 ERA at home this season and 1-0 with a 3.32 ERA in three career starts against the Giants, his childhood favorite team.

Source link