Mariners right-hander George Kirby underwent an MRI exam on his right knee yesterday, manager Scott Servais told reporters (including Adam Jude of the Seattle Times) prior to last night’s game against Houston. Servais didn’t provide details on the results of Kirby’s MRI but made clear that the imaging was precautionary and expressed optimism that Kirby will make be ready to make his next start. The righty was pulled from his start on Friday after just 88 pitches due to the issue, though following that game Kirby noted that his knee had been “bugging” him for the “past couple of weeks.” He’s pitched through it to this point, however, and like Servais suggested that he wasn’t concerned about the problem.
That’s surely a relief for the Mariners, Kirby has gotten off to a strong start this year. While his 3.76 ERA is actually just below league average by measure of ERA+, he currently sports a career-best 26.3% strikeout rate to go along with a 2.6% walk rate, while his 65.4% strand rate is much lower than is sustainable through seven starts. Given that, it’s no surprise that Kirby has some of the best peripheral numbers in the league with a 2.08 FIP, a 2.84 xERA, a 3.03 SIERA and a 3.10 xFIP.
That type of production is extremely hard to replace, and Mariners fans are surely hoping that Kirby’s knee issue is as minor as he and the team believe it to be. Should Kirby require a trip to the IL, the Mariners could turn to struggling Triple-A starter Levi Stoudt or perhaps non-roster veteran Dallas Keuchel to fill out the rotation while youngster Bryan Woo finishes up a rehab assignment at the Triple-A level.
More from around the AL West…
- Sticking with the Mariners, Servais indicated to reporters (including Jude) yesterday that the club is hoping to get infielder Josh Rojas additional at-bats going forward. Rojas has gotten off to a hot start this year as part of a platoon with Luis Urias at third base, slashing .338/.420/.535 in 82 trips to the plate. Per Servais, the solution to that could be moving Rojas to left field on days that Urias is playing the hot corner. With Dominic Canzone on the injured list, Seattle has primarily relied on Luke Raley and Dylan Moore in left this season but neither has taken hold of the position with particularly strong offensive numbers, so affording more playing time to Rojas and Urias could be a way to bolster an offense that ranks 22nd in the majors with a 96 wRC+, including a 58 wRC+ in left field.
- Rangers youngster Wyatt Langford entered the season as a widely-speculated AL Rookie of the Year candidate after he fought his way onto the Opening Day roster with an incredible Spring Training, but he’s scuffled somewhat in the early going this season with a wRC+ of just 68 and an ISO of just .069 that puts him in the bottom five among all qualified outfielders this year in terms of power production. Now, however, Langford may be dealing with an injury on top of his struggles at the plate after he exited last night’s game with tightness in his right hamstring, as noted Jeff Wilson of Rangers Today. Should Langford require a trip to the IL, the club would likely turn to veteran outfielder Travis Jankowski to fill out the lineup in his absence.
- Astros outfielder Chas McCormick has only been on the injured list for a few days, but manager Joe Espada told reporters (including MLB.com’s Brian McTaggart) that he is already making good progress in his rehab from a right hamstring issue. Per Espada, McCormick has begun running and is nearing the point where he’ll be able to begin batting practice, adding that the club hopes to get the 29-year-old out for a minor league rehab assignment “pretty soon.” McCormick scuffled at the plate to open the season this year but was one of the club’s strongest contributors in 2023, when he slashed .273/.353/.489 in 115 games.
- Sticking with the Astros, Espada also provided an update to reporters (including McTaggart) about injured right-hander Lance McCullers Jr. McCullers last pitched in the majors in late 2022 but has now progressed to throwing off a mound in his rehab process. It’s a major step for McCullers, who has made just eight starts since the end of the 2021 postseason due to flexor tendon issues. When healthy enough to take the mound, McCullers has been an impact starter for the Astros with a 2.96 ERA and 3.51 FIP in 36 starts from 2021-22. The right-hander isn’t expecting to return to action until later this summer, though yesterday’s news appears to indicate he remains on track to pitch for the club this season.
Nobody would have ever predicted the A’s would lead the Astros by several games and be at .500 near the quarter season mark. I wish them well no matter where they end up playing in the future.
Nor would I have thought their lineup was capable of scoring 20 runs
You got that right, mlb fan. And Rojas has sure exceeded most expectations. I am even more encouraged about our season now. Go Mariners!
Plus, mlb fan, this upcoming series with M’s and A’s will be most interesting.
The series with the As always seem like a dog fight. They always play the Mariners tough no matter the records.
Fred, does it seem to you Julio collides with fellow outfielders way too often? Such fundamentals such as call for the ball and call off other fielders seems to be lost on him.
I have noticed that, BPax.
He had a tremendous rookie year, sure, but he may have hit his ceiling now because of things like that. Does his own thing too much.
He does his own thing a little too much, like running through stop signs at 3rd or getting close to colliding in the outfield (I haven’t seen an actual collision… yet), he acts just like Griffey which is good and bad.
He is still only 23 and can still learn (will learn)
He’s still very young. If it’s immaturity I will take this over the water cooler baby any day
I think that noise in some stadiums makes it difficult to hear each other in the outfield.
Maybe Scottie Harris knows what he’s doing by picking Max Clark ahead of Wyatt Langford…
LOL
They are both solid prospects. With the Tigers, Langford would have started in the minors, much like Jung has. He would have to prove at AAA before getting his opportunity. Its just how Detroit does things. Still, given Detroit’s need for a power hitter, Langford would have been a better pick. He would have likely been called up at some point this year, while Clark is a minimum of two full years away. Clark will replace Riley Greene, while Langford would have played with him.
The Tigers rebuild is going so long that the top picks… Tork and Mize, will be walking when the new wave hits.
After 2026, Skubal, Mize and Rogers walk. That’s 2 years away.
Baddoo and Manning the next year.
Greene, Tork, Holton, Carpenter the year after that.
Meanwhile… they have 2 19 year olds in A ball who might be good players when these other guys leave.
If this division weren’t so weak, I would suggest selling now. But they are just a couple decent hitters away from winning this division and who knows what happens in the playoffs.
They should have tried to get Arraez… he would have looked good at the top of the lineup. DH spot is open.
Too late for that now. Maybe the Astros would deal Bregman? Sure, he’s a free agent and he’s doing terrible. Might not cost much and he could turn it around. He seems healthy. Maybe they would have an inside track on extending him?
I would love to pry Hunter Feduccia away from the Dodgers. He’s a solid defensive catcher who hits lefty. Not much power, but he draws walks and seldom K’s.
Then call the Cardinals about Goldschmidt. 1 year deal. He could be a good mentor for Tork.
Lol. Are u drunk? Terrible post
If Kirby is hurt, after Woo, the next pitcher to be called up would be Johnathan Diaz who was pitcher of month for Mariners MiLB. 2.45 ERA, 36Ks and 4 BBs. Levi Stoudt is about the 4th depth option from the minors.
When will woo come back? I haven’t seen any articles about his progress since he went down
He just made his third rehab start- sounds like one more and then he’ll be back up.
OK put Rojas in left, for his, and our next surprise. Urias needs more playing time to see what we think. Moore not hitting well enough? otherwise he sure does look good out in the field. I have to say something about Julio’s base running he can steal bases but he’s not a natural at it, he drive us crazy when he makes these mental errors can they put the fix in with that? Who was it before Julio that had raise eye brow’s? Wasn’t it Seager who could have better used a skate board. This hitting should get better when Crawford gets back, and when Raley and Haniger get their act back together.
Plus, Julio collides with fellow outfielders way too often. Such fundamental Little League stuff. It’s astonishing that it keeps happening. CALL FOR THE BALL! LOUD AND CLEAR!
Urias bolstering an offense….OPS can be a funny stat at times. You absolutely cannot convince me he is 10% better than your average hitter
Crazy legs Julio, is all over the place On the bases or out in the outfield. Bytheway he doesn’t belong in the lineup in the#2 hold his strikeout are too many it’s time to slide him down to the #5 spot let Crawford take that over when he gets back. And don’t forget to sprinkle more pixie dust on Rojas.