Dad-to-be Naylor doesn't travel with Mariners to Detroit
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DETROIT -- Josh Naylor’s status for Games 3 and 4 of the American League Division Series appears uncertain after the Mariners’ first baseman did not fly with the team to Detroit on Monday.
Naylor’s wife is in Arizona and is expecting the couple’s first child. Seattle manager Dan Wilson said Monday afternoon that the 28-year-old Naylor was taking a “personal day,” and that the team will know more on Tuesday before Game 3 at Comerica Park.
MLB’s paternity list policy in the postseason is the same as in the regular season. If Naylor were to go on paternity leave, he would be able to spend up to three days on the list. The Mariners would be able to replace him on their 26-man ALDS roster, and they had a handful of members of their taxi squad travel to Detroit. They had not made a move as of Monday evening.
Naylor has been a key cog in the Mariners’ lineup since they acquired him from the Diamondbacks on July 24 ahead of the Trade Deadline. Over 54 regular-season games with Seattle, Naylor slashed .299/.341/.490 with 10 doubles, nine homers and 33 RBIs.
Through two games in the ALDS, Naylor has gone 0-for-8 with one walk.
The Tigers are set to start right-hander Jack Flaherty in Game 3. If Naylor is unavailable, the Mariners could start Luke Raley at first base in his stead. Raley hits left-handed, and he made 31 appearances (including 24 starts) at first this season.
Raley fared much better against right-handers than lefties in the regular season, and the majority of his playing time came against righties. He had a .695 OPS over 183 plate appearances against righties and a .319 OPS in 36 plate appearances against southpaws.
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Sliding Eugenio Suárez from third base to first is another potential avenue for the Mariners if Naylor is unavailable, though that likely would only come against left-handed pitching. Suárez made three appearances at first with Seattle this season, most recently on Sept. 5. He also worked out there in recent days.
If Suárez is needed at first, Seattle has slick-fielding Ben Williamson on its ALDS roster as an additional option at third. Williamson (who made his MLB debut on April 15) slashed .253/.294/.310 over 85 games in the regular season. He was optioned to Triple-A Tacoma on July 31 (after the Mariners acquired Suárez) and finished the season there.