SEATTLE – Time has officially run out for Matt Brash's 2026 season.
The reliever’s injury-plagued year has come to an end, general manager Justin Hollander said ahead of Friday’s game against the Athletics. The Mariners received results from Brash’s Thursday MRI; it showed continued inflammation in his right lat, which is what originally put him on the injured list on June 10.
“He will be shut down for eight weeks. So that's obviously his season,” Hollander said.
Brash, who’s made just 20 appearances this season and had two separate IL stints, has no structural damage -- only inflammation where it was discovered before.
Seattle hoped he would return by mid-August, but a recent bullpen session in Boston caused him discomfort to prompt further examination.
“We're not really sure what's causing the problem right now,” Hollander said. “He just needs more rest. Like, what we're seeing is that he's not getting full healing. Even when he began his throwing progression, it was improved but not gone. The recommendation was to throw and see how it went, and we were super encouraged by the way that went until we hit this plateau. So that tells me -- and that tells our docs and everyone -- that we just need to shut it down and see where we are in eight weeks.”
His presence is definitely missed out of the bullpen. Over 16 2/3 innings, the 28-year-old carried a 0.54 ERA and 15 strikeouts. Collectively, the cohort has struggled immensely during the second half of the season. Since Aug. 1, they own a 7.79 ERA, by far the worst in MLB.
Seattle hoped Brash would have been available during its push for the postseason.
“Injuries are tough,” manager Dan Wilson said. “They're very difficult, and it's never the right time for one.”
Starter Emerson Hancock, however, had promising results from his MRI.
The right hander hit the IL after suffering a left abductor strain while tagging a runner in Toronto last Friday. He’s set to throw a bullpen on Sunday, which will determine his next steps.
“Sunday will be sort of a key in how long his progression is based on how he feels and grows, but encouraging MRI from Emerson Hancock,” Hollander said.
Seattle also placed left-hander Hoby Milner -- who joined the club in Boston and has made two appearances with the Mariners -- on the family medical emergency list Friday and called up Troy Taylor from Triple-A Tacoma.