Mariners News: Injury Reports From the AL West

SoDo Mojo updates Mariners fans on the injuries around the American League West.

We are approaching the second complete month of the MLB season, so it’s only natural that some guys are feeling the wear and tear from playing a baseball game nearly every day. Some teams have escaped the injury bug without too much harm, and some teams are the Oakland Athletics.

Injuries are never fun and no matter what team you cheer for, it’s always a bad feeling to see teams lose guys they were counting on. In the entire American League, there is not a single team without an injury, for a total of 85 injured players in varying degrees of hurt. 85 people is enough for three whole baseball teams. There is never really a “normal” amount of people injured, but this season has seemed to churn out injuries in an alarmingly fashion.

I thought it would be helpful to go through the American League West and see the state of the teams that the Mariners share a division with.

Next: Houston Astros

Houston Astros

Current record: 19-28

2016 against the Mariners: 4-3

The Astros are the least injury plagued team in Major League Baseball with only one player listed on their official injury report. Center fielder Carlos Gomez is listed on the 15-day DL with a bruised left rib cage. Before his last game played on May 15th against the Boston Red Sox, he was only slashing .182/.283/.248. His return is probable for May 31st. 

Next: Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim 

Current record: 21-28

2016 against the Mariners: 2-4

Well, the Angels were initially to be the #1 injured team in the AL, but then I counted the Athletics players. Coming into the the season, the Angels were not anyone’s pick to win the division or win anything really, but no one could foresee this. There are currently five pitchers on the disabled list, C.J. Wilson, Andrew Heaney, Huston Street, Garrett Richards and Corey Rasmus (not to be confused with his brother Colby Rasmus). Heaney, Richards and Rasmus are all on the 60-Day DL, so things may continue to be bleak for Angels pitching. Although Wilson has recently made a rehab start in triple-A, and he is scheduled to return in early June.

Out of the position players, Craig Gentry, Daniel Nava, Cliff Pennington, Andrelton Simmons and Geovany Soto are all missing time.

Next: Oakland Athletics

Texas Rangers 

Current record: 27-20

2016 against the Mariners: 3-3

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The most notable injury that the Rangers have had was to starting pitcher Yu Darvish. Darvish is recovering from a year-long absence from baseball, as he has been recovering from 2015 Tommy John surgery. He recently had a rehab start for the Rangers triple-A affiliate, and is scheduled to start May 28th in an interleague match up against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Darvish is not the only injury on this second-place Texas roster. In terms of position players, Robinson Chirinos, Shin-Soo Choo, Josh Hamilton and Drew Stubbs all are out for a time. Choo, and Stubbs are only classified under the 15-Day DL, but Hamilton and Chirinos are out for a significant amount of time. Pitchers A.J. Griffin, Keone Kela and Tanner Scheppers are also out.

Next: Seattle Mariners

Seattle Mariners 

Current record: 28-18 (!!!!!)

The biggest hit to the Mariners has been dealt to the bullpen. As a holdover from last year, reliever Charlie Furbush has been out all season and is supposed to return sometime in early June. Off season acquisitions Ryan Cook and Evan Scribner have yet to throw a pitch this season for the Mariners. Cook started a throwing program on May 9th. Reliever Tony Zych, who was impressive in his limited time this season, is scheduled back by the end of June.

Before the regular season even started, back up catcher Jesus Sucre broke his right fibula and had leg surgery in January. He is not due back until 2017. A recent injury comes from shortstop Ketel Marte, who was placed on the 15-Day DL for a left thumb sprain. Also in last night’s game against the Athletics, recent power-hitting Leonys Martin tweaked his hamstring and is day-to-day. Hopefully both Marte and Martin will be just fine, as both injuries are relatively minor.

Next: Prospects Play Part in M’s Success

Go Mariners.