Scott Servais: Mariners need Jarrod Dyson back soon from toe injury
Jul 25, 2017, 4:51 PM
(AP)
Speedy center fielder Jarrod Dyson has been out of action since crashing into the wall last Saturday trying to run down a fly ball, but the good news is that Dyson’s hyperextended toe felt much better Tuesday, though he remains out of the lineup with a left-hander on the mound for Boston.
“The swelling has gone down so he’s definitely moving in the right direction,” manager Scott Servais said.
Servais added that he didn’t yet know if Dyson would be available for Tuesday’s game, but he is hopeful he will be for Wednesday’s series finale against the Red Sox.
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The Mariners are lucky – in a way – that Boston will start another lefty on Wednesday, though it is American League All-Star Game starter Chris Sale. Dyson usually sits against southpaw starters, but there will be none of that over the weekend when the New York Mets come to town after an day off Thursday for Seattle. The off day could allow Dyson a full five days of rest before coming back Friday to face right-handers in each of the three games against the Mets.
“We need him out there, especially when the right-handed pitching comes around,” Servais said.
The 32-year-old Dyson is hitting .236 (.255 against right-handed pitching) with 22 stolen bases and a career-high five home runs, and he’s also one of the better defenders in the game in center field. Lucky for Seattle is his usual replacement, Guillermo Heredia, is no slouch in center.
This is Dyson’s first season with the Mariners, and he’s seen much more playing time than he ever did in seven seasons with Kansas City. At 284 at-bats, he’s just 15 short of his previous career-best, and that’s with over two months of season still left to go.