Latest on 3 key Mariners working back from injury

Seattle Mariners manager Dan Wilson provided updates prior to Tuesday’s series opener in Milwaukee against the MLB-leading Brewers on three key players who have working back from injury.

Mariners-Brewers Preview: Injuries, lineups and more details

Here’s a quick breakdown of those injury updates.

• Outfielder Taylor Ward, Seattle’s key addition before the MLB trade deadline last month, could be available off the bench Tuesday despite being out of the starting lineup for the fifth straight game with leg soreness.

“I think (Ward) felt much better today and a huge improvement over the off day, and so likely available off the bench if needed,” Wilson said.

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It’s been a slow start for Ward with the Mariners, who is just 5 for 32 (.156) with one extra base hit, one run and no walks in eight games since the trade from Baltimore. The 32 year old leads the AL with 87 walks this season and is ninth with a .370 on-base percentage. While his power has been down this year, he hit a career-high 36 home runs with the Angels in 2025.

• Relief pitcher Carlos Vargas is tracking to make his season debut when the Mariners return to Seattle on Friday. The 26-year-old right-hander is now three outings into a minor league rehab assignment, all of which have been scoreless, including 1 2/3 perfect inning with two strikeouts for Triple-A Tacoma on Friday. Vargas went on the injured list late in spring training with a right lat strain.

• Infielder J.P. Crawford, who is on the 10-day IL with left wrist inflammation, was set to hit off of the Trajekt pitching machine at T-Mobile Park on Tuesday and could head out on a rehab assignment “in the next several days” if all goes well, Wilson said. The 31-year-old Crawford hit 10 home runs with a .757 OPS in his first 54 games this season, but he scuffled after an IL stint for a hand injury in June, hitting just .184 with a .519 OPS in his last 32 games. He has been out of action since July 29.

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