J.P. Crawford Returns to Lineup
J.P. Crawford has made a significant return to the Seattle Mariners lineup after recovering from a fractured right pinkie. Crawford had been sidelined since July 22 due to a fracture on the back of his right hand. He played two rehab games for Tacoma, going 1-for-6. Initially, his recovery timeline was projected at four to six weeks. This marks his second stint on the injured list this season. Crawford started at shortstop and hit leadoff in Wednesday’s series finale against the Tampa Bay Rays. Manager Dan Wilson decided to keep Crawford at the top of the order due to his comfort there. Crawford aims for more consistency after missing 30 games. He entered Wednesday slashing .204/.299/.347 (.645 OPS) in 77 games, a drop-off from his career year in 2023.
Dominic Canzone Optioned to Triple-A
Dominic Canzone has been optioned to Triple-A Tacoma as the roster casualty for Crawford’s return. Canzone must remain at Tacoma for the required ten-day minimum unless another injury occurs, even with September rosters expanding soon. Since returning from his second IL stint on August 9, Canzone has hit .115 with a .480 OPS, experiencing diminished playing time.
Leo Rivas Retained
The decision to option Canzone also involved retaining infielder Leo Rivas, who has been a pleasant surprise this season. Rivas took most of the shortstop reps while Crawford was sidelined, making strong defensive plays and carrying a .344 on-base percentage. His performance was highlighted by a walk-off single on Friday, securing Wilson’s first win as manager.
Yimi García and Gregory Santos Injury Updates
Yimi García is currently on the injured list with right elbow inflammation and is expected to return in September. García began throwing again after sustaining the injury during an outing on August 19 at Dodger Stadium. Meanwhile, Gregory Santos is on the IL with right biceps inflammation, with his return date still to be determined. Santos has transitioned his rehab to the Mariners’ Spring Training facility in Arizona and has begun throwing again.
Matt Brash and Sam Haggerty’s Long-Term Injuries
Matt Brash is on the IL with right elbow inflammation and is expected to return in June 2025 after undergoing Tommy John surgery on May 8. Similarly, Sam Haggerty is on the IL with a torn right Achilles and is expected to return in May 2025 after undergoing surgery following an injury on May 18.
Jackson Kowar and Felni Celesten’s Recovery
Jackson Kowar is on the IL following right UCL surgery and is expected to return in 2025 after undergoing Tommy John surgery, which ended his season before it began. Felni Celesten, who is No. 5 on the Mariners’ Top Prospects list and No. 72 overall, underwent season-ending left hamate surgery. He is expected to begin baseball activities in early September.
Teddy McGraw’s Arm Tightness
Teddy McGraw, No. 14 on the Mariners’ Top Prospects list, is experiencing arm tightness. He is scheduled to meet Dr. Keith Meister at the end of August due to concerns over previous Tommy John surgeries.
Seattle Mariners’ Season Update
The Seattle Mariners are aiming for a postseason spot with roughly a month left in the season. General Manager Justin Hollander provided injury updates on several players, including starting shortstop J.P. Crawford. Crawford was with the team on Monday due to a minor league off day. He has made a couple of rehab starts with the Mariners’ Triple-A affiliate, Tacoma Rainiers. Crawford participated in a simulated game to get more reps since Tacoma was not playing on Monday. Optimism exists about Crawford rejoining the team before the end of the homestead. Hollander mentioned that another sim game might be possible instead of sending him back to Tacoma for more rehab starts.
Victor Robles’ Injury Status
Victor Robles was available off the bench for Monday’s game but did not start for the fourth time in five games. He is expected to be in Tuesday’s lineup, dealing with a right index finger contusion and lingering hip soreness. Robles suffered a finger injury after being hit by a 95 mph fastball from San Francisco Giants starter Blake Snell while attempting to bunt in the first inning on Saturday. X-rays of Robles’ finger were negative, indicating no significant damage. It appears Robles will not miss significant time due to the injury.
Recent Trades and Acquisitions
At the trade deadline, Seattle acquired Randy Arozarena from the Tampa Bay Rays and veteran Justin Turner from the Toronto Blue Jays to bolster their offense. Julio Rodriguez, another key outfielder, had been on the injured list with a high ankle sprain but returned as a designated hitter on August 11. Robles filled in for Rodriguez in center field during his absence.
Current Standings and Playoff Prospects
The Mariners have an overall record of 65-65 and are struggling post-All-Star break with a record of 13-18 since then. They are currently trailing by 4.5 games behind the Houston Astros in the AL West Division and seven games back in the AL Wild Card Race, needing to overtake the Boston Red Sox and Minnesota Twins for the third Wild Card berth.
Upcoming Games and Broadcast Information
Monday’s opener against the Rays was set for a 6:40 p.m. start, with radio coverage beginning at 5:30 p.m. via Seattle Sports Radio Network broadcasts. Fans can follow Seattle Mariners coverage on social media by liking them on Facebook and following Teren Kowatsch and Brady Farkas on “X” (@Teren_Kowatsch and @wdevradiobrady).
The Seattle Mariners are in a critical phase of their season, with key players returning from injuries and new acquisitions aiming to make an impact. The team’s performance in the coming weeks will be crucial for their playoff aspirations.
