The Mariners introduced that outfielder Julio Rodriguez has been reinstated from the 10-day injured record. ESPN’s Buster Olney (X hyperlink) reported earlier at the moment that Seattle supposed to activate Rodriguez in time for tonight’s sport with the Mets. Infielder Ryan Bliss was optioned to Triple-A within the corresponding transfer.
A collision with the outfield wall left Rodriguez with a proper excessive ankle sprain again on July 21, and he was positioned on the IL a few days later. As not too long ago as yesterday, stories indicated that Rodriguez wasn’t anticipated to play at the moment, but the Mariners had been contemplating him day-to-day as a result of some enchancment in his capacity to run. Naturally the Mariners aren’t going to take any untoward dangers with Rodriguez’s well being, however with Seattle in a pitched battle with the Astros for the AL West lead, each Rodriguez and the group had an apparent want to get him again in motion as quickly as safely attainable.
Rodriguez would be the designated hitter in tonight’s lineup, which could possibly be the group’s most typical technique to deploy Rodriguez till his ankle is feeling absolutely prepared for normal heart subject responsibility. Putting in Rodriguez at DH additionally permits Seattle to maintain Victor Robles in heart subject, as Robles has (surprisingly) been one of many Mariners’ higher hitters since he was signed in early June.
The timing couldn’t have been a lot worse for Rodriguez to hit the IL, as he was sidelined simply as his bat was waking up from a season-long droop. Rodriguez struggled to a .244/.294/.324 slash line and 7 house runs over his first 364 plate appearances, however he had cracked 4 homers and posted a 1.219 OPS within the 49 journeys to the plate previous to his harm. That scorching streak lifted his season-long wRC+ again as much as an evenly league-average 100. Rodriguez has additionally continued to ship robust protection in heart subject, however Robles additionally stuffed in properly by way of glovework.
