Mariners Injury Updates: Latest on Crawford, Brash, and others

The Seattle Mariners don’t expect infielder J.P. Crawford to miss an extended amount of time with the wrist injury that landed him on the 10-day injured list Friday.

Seattle Mariners unveil expected return date for Brendan Donovan

Crawford, who is dealing with left wrist inflammation, is set to receive an injection in his wrist and is anticipated to need three to five days down before resuming baseball activities and potentially returning to the M’s in a “couple weeks,” general manager Justin Hollander said before Friday’s series opener against the Minnesota Twins.

“Obviously, he’s been in discomfort as he tries to play through the wrist issue, which is like a tendon sheath issue,” Hollander said.

Crawford’s wrist injury dates back to Seattle’s last homestand. He missed all three games of the homestand’s final series against Cincinnati and the first game of the following series at the Texas Rangers. Crawford was also held out of the lineup for the final two games against the Dodgers on Wednesday and Thursday but appeared as a defensive replacement late in Wednesday’s game.

With Crawford out and Brendan Donovan not expected to return until Tuesday, Hollander said the team will “mix and match” its third base options during their three-game set with Minnesota, which begins Friday at 7:10 p.m.

“I think when BD is back, obviously that’s a natural fit for him to come back (to),” Hollander said. “For this weekend, I would imagine you’ll see some Leo (Rivas), some Weston Wilson. We’ll see what the staff thinks as we go, but that’s the plan right now.”

Hollander shared updates on several other injured Mariners, including a few minor leaguers. Here is a look at what he said.

• Reliever Matt Brash (right lat inflammation) was set to throw off a slope Friday. If that goes well, he will throw his first bullpen next Friday. The right-hander expected to return the big-league club in the Aug. 22-28 range.

Brash, who is on the IL with the injury for the second time this season, had a 0.54 ERA and 0.84 WHIP with just two runs allowed (one earned) while striking out 15 batters and walking six over 16 2/3 innings before his latest IL stint. He last pitched in the majors June 8.

• Reliever Carlos Vargas (right lat strain) is about a week ahead of Brash and set to throw a bullpen on Saturday. If that goes well, he will either throw another bullpen, throw a live batting practice or begin a rehab assignment. Vargas is estimated to return Aug. 15.

Pitching coaches Pete Woodworth and Trent Blank “will get a look at where he’s at in the bullpen tomorrow, but all positive signs for Vargy right now,” Hollander said.

Vargas has been out since spring training and last pitched in a game March 23 during Cactus League play. He was second among M’s relievers with 77 innings pitched last season while posting a 3.97 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, 54 strikeouts and 23 walks.

• Cooper Criswell is expected to be the last of Seattle’s three injured right-handed relievers to return from the IL. Hollander said he’s anticipated to return between Aug. 28 and Sept. 1. The right-hander has been out since June 9 with right shoulder and pec strains.

Prior to landing on the IL, Criswell posted a 3.52 ERA and 1.17 WHIP with 23 strikeouts and eight walks over 30 2/3 innings.

• Triple-A Tacoma outfielder Brennan Davis is dealing with a “significant hamstring issue” that has kept him out since May 29. Davis, a spring training standout, is doing some light exercises but is not expected to return anytime soon.

• Touted prospect Felnin Celesten is dealing with a “small back thing” that kept him out of the Double-A Arkansas Travelers’ lineup Thursday night. There is no long-term concern with the issue and Celesten was back in the Travelers’ lineup Friday.

Celesten, a shortstop ranked as the Mariners’ No. 3 prospect and No. 36 in baseball by MLB Pipeline, was promoted to Double-A on July 20. He was batting .308 with a .927 OPS, 14 homers, 23 doubles, four triples and 20 stolen bases in 88 minor leagues entering Friday.

• Minor league pitcher Brock Moore was pulled from his relief appearance in Double-A on Thursday night after facing just two batters due to a finger issue. The 26-year-old Moore has a 3.82 ERA and 1.14 WHIP with 66 strikeouts to 20 walks in 37 2/3 innings over 30 relief appearances across High-A and Double-A this year.

Seattle Mariners news and more

• Brendan Donovan’s return will be ‘huge boost’ to M’s, analyst says
• Trade Deadline: Twins get LHP from Mets before visiting Seattle Mariners
• Expectation growing that Seattle Mariners will trade Emerson Hancock

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