Mariners notebook: Robinson Cano’s quad a question mark, but 2 key players could return soon
May 12, 2017, 1:50 PM | Updated: 8:33 pm
Coming out of the batter's box too suddenly Wednesday didn't help Robinson Cano's sore quad. (AP)
(AP)
TORONTO – Robinson Cano is out of the Mariners’ lineup Friday with a quad issue for the second straight day.
“He kind of feels the same as it did yesterday,” manager Scott Servais said. “It is still bothering him, so we will give him another day and hopefully get him in Saturday or Sunday, I’m not sure right now. It is truly day-to-day.”
Cano had been protecting the quad since coming out of Tuesday’s game after feeling a slight pull. After putting up four hits in Wednesday’s game, he saw the opportunity for a fifth hit on a ball that came just off the bat that the first baseman had to come in to get. His quad let him know that he had come out of the box too hard.
“We are all human. That’s the ball player in us. I think that’s what got him him right there,” Servais said. “He was managing it well up until that point.”
Cano tested out the quad before the game Thursday and it was clear he was not ready to go.
“He just took five swings and walked out of the cage,” Servais said.
It does not appear Cano will be available to pinch hit Friday.
Notes
• Christian Bergman will make his first start for the Mariners in Toronto. Bergman started 15 games while going up and down with the Rockies from 2014 through 2016. The Mariners still have not announced a starter for Saturday. That decision will be made after the game, and we will most likely see a roster move Saturday morning.
• James Paxton (forearm) and Mitch Haniger (oblique) are making good progress in their returns from injury. Haniger is scheduled to hit off a tee on Saturday and Paxton will play catch Friday. While there had been speculation that the two could return at some point during the upcoming homestand, it is looking more likely that we will see them on the next road trip, either in Washington, D.C. or Boston.
• Felix Hernandez has played catch twice since being put on the DL with shoulder bursitis, and according to Servais felt just “so-so” after his latest catch. The Mariners will back off his catch sessions a bit and give him a day or two off.
• Reports on Steve Cishek’s outing in Tacoma on Thursday were good. Cishek will get one more rehab inning and then be re-evaluated when the team returns Monday.
• Mike Zunino has three hits in seven at-bats with two home runs in his first two games with the Rainiers. For Zunino it is not about numbers only, as the Mariners are looking for changes with his swing. “I think some of the adjustments we have been talking about he has been starting to grasp hold of, which is great news,” Servais said. “I’m happy for Mike.”
