Mariners News: Julio Rodríguez's late scratch raises alarms ahead of Astros series

Seattle Mariners star Julio Rodríguez was a last-minute scratch ahead of the opener of a four-game series against the Houston Astros on Thursday.

As is customary, Rodríguez had been slated to play center field and bat third in Seattle's original lineup. The last-minute change happened approximately a half hour before first pitch, as reported by Tim Booth of The Seattle Times.

Also according to Booth, the Mariners revealed after their 9-2 loss that Rodríguez was scratched due to a tight back and that he is day-to-day:

No reason initially given for Julio Rodríguez's absence from the Mariners lineup

Booth noted prior to Thursday's game that the 2022 AL Rookie of the Year had been on the field and taking batting practice before the game. He was replaced in center field by Leody Taveras, with Miles Mastrobuoni starting in right field.

The 2025 season had been a healthy one for Rodríguez, who started 47 of Seattle's first 48 games in center field. He had also come into the four-game set hot, having homered in two of the club's three games against the Chicago White Sox earlier in the week.

The 24-year-old did have some injury issues in 2022 and 2024, primarily missing games with wrist and ankle injuries. He has otherwise been a mainstay for the Mariners, appearing in 478 of 534 possible games since he debuted as a rookie in '22.

Rodríguez's late scratch came only a few days after shortstop J.P. Crawford was similarly taken out of the lineup at the last minute before a game against the New York Yankees on May 14. He turned out to have shoulder soreness, and was back in the lineup for the start of a series against the San Diego Padres on May 16.

For the season, Rodríguez is batting .231 with nine home runs, a .724 OPS and 1.6 rWAR. The soonest he can be back in the lineup is for Friday's game, with first pitch scheduled for 5:10 p.m. PT.

According to Daniel Kramer of MLB.com, Rodríguez told reporters that it is his preference to talk more about his injury and its prognosis on Friday.