Lineups: Hand injury forces Nelson Cruz to Mariners’ bench

Mariners slugger Nelson Cruz is out the lineup Tuesday for Game 2 against the division-leading Rangers.

Cruz is dealing with a nerve issue in his hand, according to 710 ESPN Seattle’s Shannon Drayer, and might be held out Wednesday, too. Drayer reports that Cruz’s absence shouldn’t go beyond Seattle’s day off on Thursday.

Franklin Gutierrez will take Cruz’s spot batting cleanup and in right field. Switch-hitter Shawn O’Malley will lead off against lefty Cole Hamels, a day after the Mariners struck out nine times against ace Yu Darvish in the team’s 6-3 loss Monday.

The game will air live at 5:05 p.m. on 710 ESPN Seattle. The pregame show starts at 4.

Mariners

Shawn O’Malley, RF
Ketel Marte, SS
Robinson Cano, 2B
Franklin Gutierrez, DH
Kyle Seager, 3B
Dae-Ho Lee, 1B
Leonys Martin, CF
Mike Zunino, C
Guillermo Heredia, LF

James Paxton, LHP

Rangers

Delino DeShields, LF
Ian Desmond, CF
Carlos Beltran, DH
Adrian Beltre, 3B
Rougned Odor, 2B
Jonathan Lucroy, C
Elvis Andrus, SS
Ryan Rua, 1B
Carlos Gomez, RF

Cole Hamels, LHP

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