Dyson (toe) eyes weekend for return to lineup

SEATTLE -- Mariners center fielder Jarrod Dyson was sidelined for a third straight game on Tuesday night by a hyperextended big toe on his left foot, but manager Scott Servais is confident the speedster can be back in the lineup at least by Friday when Seattle opens a three-game series against the Mets at Safeco Field.
Given that Dyson doesn't hit left-handers well, he's picked a good time to be out since the Red Sox are starting three southpaws in the current series.
Servais hasn't ruled Dyson out of Wednesday's 12:40 p.m. PT series finale against lefty Chris Sale, though he'd almost certainly be limited to a bench role. But with a day off on Thursday, Servais thought Dyson had a good chance of being OK to face the Mets and a trio of right-handed starters in the weekend set.
Dyson has been outstanding defensively in center field and also leads the Mariners with 22 stolen bases while posting a .236/.316/.356 line and 49 runs scored in 91 games. The 32-year-old will require a healthy toe to be able to run full speed, which is his primary weapon.
"He's got a special tool, there's no doubt," Servais said prior to Tuesday's game. "We need him out there and when the right-handed pitching comes around, we'd like to have him available definitely on the weekend. And we'll see where he's at tomorrow as well. But major improvement today."
Servais said Dyson came in early Tuesday to run in the pool and try to loosen up his toe, which was injured when he slammed into the wall trying to make a catch in Saturday's game.
"The swelling has gone down, so he's definitely moving in the right direction," Servais said. "I'm pretty confident he'll be OK for [the Mets series]."
Dyson has hit .255/.333/.397 in 239 at-bats against right-handers, compared to .133/.220/.133 in 45 at-bats against lefties, which is why Guillermo Heredia likely would have been starting in center field regardless in the series with Boston.