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Seattle Mariners

Mariners Pregame: James Paxton to D.L., lineups and starters

Seattle Mariners starting pitcher James Paxton adjusts his cap after giving up a run to the Los Angeles Angels during the fifth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, May 2, 2017, in Seattle. (Elaine Thompson / Associated Press)
By Dave Nichols daven@spokesman.com(509) 459-5441

The Seattle Mariners host the Texas Rangers in the first of a three-game series at Safeco Field 7:10 p.m.

Before the game, the team placed LHP James Paxton on the 10-day disabled list for a left forearm strain. Paxton, 28, was 3-0 with a 1.43 ERA (6 ER, 37 2/3 innings) with 45 strikeouts in six starts with Seattle this season. He has allowed one earned run or less in five of his six starts.

Paxton is expected to miss three or four starts. In pregame comments, both he and the team downplayed it as “minor” and he shouldn’t miss extended time. Paxton tried to play catch on Thursday and the forearm tightened.

Paxton told reporters he first experienced discomfort in a start against Detroit last week where, after a long inning of hitting he “felt a little something,” and felt soreness after the game.

Obviously, this is a big blow to the Mariners even if it is just a couple of weeks where Paxton is on the shelf. He has clearly been one of the best starters in the A.L. and still three games below .500 every game is going to count for this team.

The Mariners expect to call up Christian Bergman from AAA-Tacoma and either he or Dillon Overton will replace him in the rotation. Either way, the M’s are now without three-fifths of their projected opening day rotation for the foreseeable future.

Transactions: Before the game, the M’s optioned catcher Mike Zunino to Tacoma and recalled Tuffy Gosewisch. Zunino, 26, was hitting .167/.250/.236 in 80 plate appearances with no homers and two RBIs.

Also: Boog Powell was optioned to Tacoma and INF Mike Freeman and RHP Evan Marshall were recalled. Powell went hitless in four at-bats in three games with the M’s.

Lineups and starter matchup

Courtesy @MarinersPR
Courtesy @MarinersPR

Starters: RHP Yovani Gallardo (1-3, 5.08) vs. RHP Yu Darvish (3-2, 3.03).

Mariners Notes

    Nelson Cruz ranks in the top-10 among American League leaders in home runs, RBI and batting average. Cruz’s 27 RBI are tied with New York’s Aaron Judge and Minnesota’s Miguel Sano for the most in the Junior Circuit. His .330 average is fifth-best in the A.L. Cruz’s seven home runs rank tied for seventh-best in the A.L.

  • Over their last 10 games, the Mariners are batting .350 (36 for 103) with runners in scoring position, the second-best average with RISP in the Majors during that span.
  • Since Mitch Haniger was placed on the DL on April 26, Ben Gamel has made eight starts in right field, batting .333 (10 for 30) with eight runs, four doubles, one home run, five RBI and six walks.

This Day in Mariners History

In 1982, Mariner pitcher Gaylord Perry won his 300th career game, a complete game, 7-3 victory over the New York Yankees before a Kingdome crowd of 27,369. Perry became just the 15th pitcher in Major League history to win 300 games.