Mariners’ Brian Wu on injured list again: ‘It absolutely sucks’

scheduled tribe. PETERSBURG — Brian Wu’s voice went quiet and words didn’t come easily as he tried to describe his disappointment in returning to the injured list for the second time this season.

Prior to Tuesday night’s game versus the Tampa Bay Rays, the Mariners placed Wu on the 15-day injured list due to a right hamstring strain. Seattle recalled right-handed reliever Collin Snyder from Triple-A Tacoma to take Wu’s spot on the 26-man roster.

In the fourth inning of his start on Monday night, Wu suffered a hamstring strain when he threw a first-pitch fastball to Taylor Walls. After discussing the situation with manager Scott Servais and head athletic trainer Kyle Torgerson, Wu attempted a warm-up pitch, but he never actually threw a ball, immediately stopping himself when his hamstring tightened.

“I didn’t feel like I could move forward the way I wanted to,” Wu said Tuesday afternoon. “I’ve never had any lower body stuff, hamstring stuff. I didn’t really know what was going on. I knew it felt different and like nothing I had felt before.”

Clearly upset that his body had betrayed him again, Wu limped off the field with Torgerson in tow, unable to hide his disappointment. Even after a day, the disappointment of being sidelined again was clearly visible.

“Obviously, it’s been a tough season so far dealing with injuries,” Wu said. “I finally feel like I’ve had a night where I’m feeling good and the ball is coming out well and things are going back to where I think it can be,” he said. Is, and then you know.” “It just sucks.”

Seeing his young starter’s disappointed reaction and despairing about his situation, Servais met with Wu on Tuesday morning.

“I talked to him about it earlier today,” Servais said. “These things happen. Sometimes it’s out of your control. He’s a young player and he’s learning at this level what he needs to do to keep rolling and stay away from these soft-tissue injuries. Trying to live, but some things you can’t control.

Wu was told by the team’s medical staff that the strain was “low level”, giving him and the team some hope of a return after a minimum of 15 days.

“There’s no specific timeline, but the reports from trainers and medical people were pretty positive in the fact that he can come back very quickly,” Servais said.

The Mariners are hopeful that Wu will be able to continue playing catch and keep his arm active while his hamstring heals.

“That’s the key,” Servais “You don’t want to stop throwing yours. He won’t come down the slope any time soon, but you have to keep throwing and keep it going.

Wu missed the first five weeks of the season due to elbow inflammation. When he returned, the Mariners were cautious about his usage and limited his pitches and innings. He also suffered from some stiffness in his forearm after his return.

Snyder will give a bullpen that has been heavily utilized on this road trip, including a 4-3 loss to the Rays on Monday, a fresh arm for some depth.

The Mariners are still evaluating their options for replacing Wu in the rotation and when they might do so. With Thursday and Monday off, they may miss Wu’s turn in the rotation, which will come on Sunday vs. the Twins.

“We have some days off coming up, which helps in a lot of areas, but certainly with rotation, so we’ll take a look at that,” Servais said. “It’s really important to give these guys an extra (day off) if you can, but there are two off days that are very close so hopefully we can use them to our advantage.”

If they waive Wu’s spot, Luis Castillo, who started Tuesday night vs. Tampa, would be on regular rest and pitch Sunday vs. the Twins. But if they were to insert a starter for one game in the Twins series, it would mean they could put Castillo, George Kirby and Logan Gilbert in the lineup to start the series vs. the Orioles.

The Mariners have two potential candidates to fill the rotation spot: right-hander Emerson Hancock or left-hander Jhonathan Diaz. Hancock was sidelined early on June 19 due to lower back tightness. He was given a few extra days of rest as a precaution and was scheduled to leave for Tacoma on Saturday.

Hancock began the season in Wu’s place in the rotation. He has made eight MLB starts, posting a 3–3 record with a 4.79 ERA.

Diaz pitched for Tacoma last Saturday vs. Las Vegas and struggled, giving up five runs on seven hits in five innings of work. He made a spot start for Seattle on June 11, pitching five innings and giving up three runs on nine hits against the White Sox.

Veteran lefty Dallas Keuchel, who has pitched well for Tacoma this season, is no longer and the replacement he once was. The Mariners traded Keuchel to the Brewers on Tuesday in exchange for cash considerations. The 36-year-old Keuchel had a 7-4 record and a 3.93 ERA in 13 starts.

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Reliever Gregory Santos (lat strain) held a bullpen session before Tuesday’s game. He will give a live batting practice session at T-Mobile Park on Friday. If he comes out healthy, he will begin rehab work.

The Mariners announced that a pair of top prospects – outfielder Lazaro Montes and infielder Michael Arroyo – have been promoted from Low-A Modesto to High-A Everett.

Montes, the No. 4 prospect in Baseball America’s organization, was destroying pitching in the Cal League. He had a .309/.411/.527 slash line with 13 doubles, two triples, 13 homers, 72 RBI, 43 walks, and 59 strikeouts in 65 games.

Arroyo, the Mariners’ No. 9 prospect, had a .279/.404/.500 slash line with 11 doubles, five triples, 11 homers, 49 RBI, eight stolen bases, 39 walks and 61 strikeouts in 60 games.