Mariners’ Brian Waugh lands on injured list again: ‘It’s bad’

street. PETERSBURG — Brian Waugh’s voice grew quiet and the words didn’t come out easily as he tried to describe his disappointment in returning to the injured list for the second time this season.

Before Tuesday night’s game against the Tampa Bay Rays, the Mariners placed Wu on the 15-day injured list with a right hamstring strain. Seattle recalled right-handed reliever Collin Snyder from Triple-A Tacoma to take Woo’s place on the 26-man roster.

In the fourth inning of his start Monday night, Waugh felt a strain in his hamstring when he fired a first-pitch fastball to Taylor Walls. After discussing the situation with manager Scott Servais and head athletic trainer Kyle Torgerson, Wu attempted a warm-up, but never threw the ball, and immediately stopped himself when his hamstring tightened.

“I didn’t feel like I could move forward the way I wanted to,” Wu said Tuesday afternoon. “I’d never had anything with the lower body, or with the hamstrings. I didn’t really know what was going on. I knew it was different and I didn’t feel anything I had ever felt before.”

Visibly upset that his body had betrayed him once again, Wu limped off the field with Torgerson, unable to hide his disappointment. Even after a day, the frustration of being marginalized once again was palpable.

“Obviously it’s been a tough season so far just dealing with injuries,” Wu said. “I finally feel like I’ve had a night where I feel good and the ball is coming out good and things are back to where I feel like they can be, and then you know,” he said. “It’s just bad.”

After seeing his young player’s frustrated reaction and being depressed about his situation, Servais met with Wu on Tuesday morning.

“I talked to him about it earlier today,” Service said. “These things happen. Sometimes it’s out of your control. He’s a young player and he’s learning at this level what he has to do to keep rolling and try to stay away from some soft tissue injuries, but some things you can’t control.”

The team’s medical staff told Wu that the fatigue was of a “lower level”, giving him and the team some hope of returning after the 15-day minimum.

“There is no specific timetable, but reports from coaches and medical staff have been very positive in the fact that he can come back very quickly,” Servais said.

The Mariners hope Woo can continue to play catch and keep his arm active while his hamstring heals.

“That’s the key,” Servais said. “You don’t want to stop your throwing. It’s not going to go off the slope any time soon, but you have to keep throwing and keep at it.

Wu missed the first five weeks of the season with a sore elbow. When he returned, the Mariners were cautious in his use, limiting his pitches and innings. He also experienced some forearm tightness after his return.

It will give Snider a bullpen that has been used heavily on this road trip, including Monday’s 4-3 loss to the Rays, a new arm for some depth.

The Mariners are still evaluating their options for replacing Woo in the rotation and when they might be able to do so. With Thursday and Monday off, they can skip Woo’s role in the rotation, which will come Sunday versus the Twins.

“We have some days off coming up, which helps in a number of areas, but definitely with the rotation, so we’ll take a look at that,” Servais said. “It’s really important to give these guys an extra (day off) if you can, but they have two days off very soon so hopefully we can use them to our advantage.”

If they step over for Waugh, Luis Castillo, who started Tuesday night against Tampa, will remain in regular relief and pitch Sunday against the Twins. But if they had inserted a starter for one of the games in the Twins series, that would have meant they could have lined up Castillo, George Kirby and Logan Gilbert to start the series against the Orioles.

The Mariners have two potential candidates to fill the rotation spot: right-hander Emerson Hancock or left-hander Jonathan Diaz. Hancock was lifted from his start on June 19 due to lower back tightness. He had a few extra days of rest as a precaution and is scheduled to start in Tacoma on Saturday.

Hancock started the season in the rotation in place of Wu. He made eight MLB appearances, posting a 3-3 record with a 4.79 ERA.

Diaz pitched for Tacoma last Saturday against Las Vegas and struggled, giving up five runs on seven hits in five innings of work. He made one start for Seattle on June 11, pitching five innings and allowing three runs on nine hits against the White Sox.

Veteran left fielder Dallas Keuchel, who played well for Tacoma this season, is no longer an option and an option that was once one. The Mariners are trading Keuchel to the Brewers on Tuesday in exchange for cash considerations. The 36-year-old Keuchel had a 7-4 record and 3.93 ERA in 13 starts.

also

Reliever Gregory Santos (Latin Dynasty) threw a practice session before Tuesday’s game. He will throw a live batting practice session on Friday at T-Mobile Park. If he emerges from that state of health, he will begin a rehab mission.

The Mariners announced that two of their top prospects — outfielder Lazaro Montes and infielder Michael Arroyo — have been promoted from Low-A Modesto to High-A Everett.

Montes, the No. 4 prospect in the American Baseball Organization, has been destroying pitching in the Cal League. He had a .309/.411/.527 slash line in 65 games with 13 doubles, two triples, 13 homers, 72 RBI, 43 walks, and 59 strikeouts.

Arroyo, the Mariners’ No. 9 hitter, had a .279/.404/.500 slash line in 60 games with 11 doubles, five triples, 11 home runs, 49 RBI, eight stolen bases, 39 walks, and 61 strikeouts.