Injured Mariners reliever Matt Brash undergoes MRI

SEATTLE – Seattle Mariners reliever Matt Brash underwent an MRI on his right lat Thursday after experiencing tightness following a bullpen session in Boston earlier this week.

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Mariners general manager Justin Hollander said experiencing tightness has been a “recurring theme” with Brash’s right lat strain over the past two weeks. The right-hander has typically felt fine when he’s throwing off flat ground or in bullpens, but the tightness has crept up when he’s finishing up bullpen sessions and in the recovery phase.

Hollander said the club will have a better idea of what’s next for Brash once it receives the results from the MRI.

The Mariners initially hoped Brash, who has been out since June 9, would return in mid-to-late August. But the tightness Brash has experienced in recent weeks has kept him from progressing from bullpen sessions to live batting practice, which would be the final step before a rehab stint.

The Mariners are hopeful Brash can return this season, but “time is running out,” Hollander said.

Seattle’s bullpen has greatly felt the impact of Brash’s absence.

Before Brash landed on the injured list, the bullpen’s 3.20 ERA was fifth in baseball. But in the games since he’s been out, the bullpen has a 4.49 ERA, the seventh-worst mark in the league.

A closer look at the numbers show Mariners relievers have particularly struggled in the seventh and eighth innings since Brash’s injury, which are innings he would typically cover. Prior to the injury, Seattle relievers had the third best ERA in the seventh and eighth innings at 2.96. But since Brash has been out, the Mariners’ bullpen arms have a 7.30 ERA is the seventh and eighth innings, the worst mark in baseball by nearly a full run.

The poor numbers by Mariners relievers in those innings have been impacted a bit by a position players pitching in blowouts, but it’s also the result of recent struggles from right-hander Eduard Bazardo and left-hander Jose A. Ferrer. Both have ERAs north 5.00 since the All-Star break.

The 28-year-old Brash was having a standout start to his season prior to his injury. In 20 games, he had a 0.54 ERA and had allowed just eight hits through 16 2/3 innings.

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