Mariners place Emerson Hancock on the 15-day IL

The Seattle Mariners placed right-hander Emerson Hancock on the 15-day injured list with a left adductor strain ahead of Sunday’s series finale against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre.

Reliever Nick Davila was recalled from Triple-A Tacoma in a corresponding move. Davila was already with the team in Toronto as a member of the taxi squad.

Ex-Mariners OF Kelenic signs minor league deal with Yankees

The move with Hancock comes after the former first-round pick was hurt in the first inning Friday while diving to tag out Toronto’s Nathan Lukes on a soft grounder down the first-base line. Hancock was evaluated by head athletic training Kyle Torgerson and manager Dan Wilson after the play but remained in the game.

Hancock allowed three runs in the first inning after the incident. He finished his start with five runs allowed on eight hits with a season-low one strikeout over five innings.

Hancock played some light catch with a trainer Sunday before he was moved to the IL.

Seattle Sports Mariners insider Shannon Drayer prior to the roster move reported that the Mariners had named George Kirby the starter for Monday’s series opener against Boston and Bryan Woo as the starter Tuesday, but that Wednesday’s starter was to be determined. Wednesday would have been Hancock’s typical turn in the rotation.

With Hancock out, it appears right-hander Bryce Miller’s move to the bullpen will be short lived. Miller, who was moved to the bullpen Friday but has yet to appear in a game since, threw “what looked like a bullpen” session Sunday at Rogers Centre, Drayer reported.

If Miller does make the start Wednesday, he’ll be looking to bounce back from a rough stretch. Over his past eight starts, which have all ended in Mariners losses, Miller has a 7.19 ERA and 30 strikeouts to 20 walks over 41 1/3 innings.

The 27-year-old Hancock has been among Seattle’s most reliable pitchers during a breakout year. In a career-high 25 starts, the right-hander has a 3.57 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 126 strikeouts over 138 2/3 innings – all career bests.

Davila, 27, has appeared in 23 games for the Mariners this year, posting a 4.10 ERA and 1.22 WHIP with 13 strikeouts to 11 walks over 26 1/3 innings.

Donovan remains out

Brendan Donovan, who has been out on the 7-day concussion IL since being struck in the head by a pitch in the batting cages on Aug. 22, spent a few minutes taking groundballs at third base pregame Sunday, Drayer said during the Mariners’ pregame show on Seattle Sports.

Donovan was eligible to return from the IL on Saturday but has yet to be activated.

Seattle Mariners news and more

• Kade Anderson on debut: ‘I had my D+ stuff’
• The Mariners’ top candidates for September callups
• Amsinger: Why Seattle Mariners will still win the AL West

Related

Ex-Mariners OF Kelenic signs minor league deal with YankeesMariners fall to Blue Jays 4-3 in Kade Anderson’s 2nd startMariners Notebook: The latest on Hancock and DonovanWhat Bryce Miller said about move to Mariners’ bullpenKade Anderson on debut: ‘I had my D+ stuff’Cease, 3 homers lead Blue Jays to 8-1 win over Mariners