Mariners Injury Update: How close are Matt Brash, Troy Taylor to returning?

While stressing that it is still extremely early in the season, it doesn't erase the uneasy feeling within the Seattle Mariners fanbase about the team's 3-4 record through the first seven games. The offense has regressed to where it was last year prior to Dan Wilson's arrival as manager, while the pitching staff is not (yet) performing at the elite level it displayed throughout the 2024 campaign.

The bullpen specifically is having its challenges, as evidenced by ranking 15th in ERA, 22nd in WHIP, and 25th in opposing team batting average ahead of Thursday's Major League action. However, the good news is that it seems a couple of relievers are close to returning and providing the type of reinforcements the Mariners need out of the pen.

RHP Matt Brash

Injury: Tommy John surgery

We've mentioned this once or a 100 times previously, but Matt Brash's slider is arguably the best pitch on the staff and was sorely missed last year. As such, the news that he's set to fly with the Mariners on Thursday to San Francisco and throw a bullpen session in front of coaches over the weekend is extremely promising.

This follows on from Brash seeing action for the first time since his injury, when he threw 12 pitches in the Mariners' final Cactus League game during spring training against the San Diego Padres. As perAdam Jude of The Seattle Times, he touched 98.5 mph in that appearance versus the Padres, and the prognosis is that he remains on course for a late-April return to Major League action.

RHP Troy Taylor

Injury: Right lat strain

As for Troy Taylor, the belief is that he should be back even sooner that Brash, with him making his first rehab appearance on Tuesday for the Tacoma Rainiers. As per Mariners Minors on X, he threw 13 strikes on 19 pitches and his fastball topped out a 99 mph, although he did also show some understandable rust in allowing four hits and two runs in two-thirds of an inning.

Taylor originally suffered his injury during offseason workouts, and in all honesty the Mariners coaching staff were just relieved it was nothing more serious. He made his Major League debut last year and went on to pitch 19.1 innings over 21 appearances, in the process producing a 3.72 ERA, 1.138 WHIP and 25 strikeouts.

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