Another gut-wrenching loss to the Twins by a 5-3 final, where the bullpen failed to hold a slim lead, stings hard enough. But now, J.P. Crawford is officially on the injured list with wrist inflammation, and that’s a whole new level of pain for the Emerald City. Just when we thought we could shake off a tough one, this news drops like a lead balloon.
M’s Bullpen Chokes, and Key Injuries Mount
Crawford’s IL stint is a massive blow, taking our veteran infielder out of the lineup with wrist inflammation. And if that wasn’t enough, Luke Raley missed yesterday’s game too, still dealing with that elbow soreness he’s been battling for over a month now. Our boys need to be healthy to make any kind of run, and these dings are piling up. Good news is Brendan Donovan is set to return from the injured list on Tuesday, so at least there’s some relief coming. But losing J.P. and Raley’s ongoing issue? That’s rough, folks. We need some serious grit from the rest of the squad to pick up the slack.
AL West Heats Up While Other Teams Make Moves
Around the league, things are moving fast. The Rangers are now favored to win the AL West, according to Ryan Blake at Fangraphs, and that just cranks up the pressure on our M’s even more. Those Twins, who just handed us a loss, went and acquired right-hander Dean Kremer from the Orioles for teenage outfielder Jhomnardo Reyes. Meanwhile, the Orioles locked up right-hander Yennier Canó on a two-year, $7.5M contract extension, but also lost Ryan Mountcastle for multiple months with a “significant” oblique strain. Talk about mixed bags.
Even a former Mariner, Will Vest, now with the Tigers, is undergoing season-ending elbow surgery and has a hip procedure planned. Other teams are dealing with major injuries too: Reds outfielder Blake Dunn is out for the year with elbow surgery, and the Giants are even suspending payments to Harrison Bader after a scooter accident raised “long-term concerns” about his foot. Crazy stuff happening out there.
We need our Mariners to dig deep and find a way to stay competitive, especially with the Rangers looking so good. Every game matters, and with J.P. out and Raley hobbled, we’re gonna see who truly steps up for the green and blue. Let’s get it, M’s.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Lookout Landing.
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