TORONTO -- The Mariners were hopeful that Emerson Hancock would be able to make his next scheduled start on Wednesday in Boston, but were ultimately forced to place the right-hander on the 15-day injured list.
The move came ahead of Sunday’s series finale in Toronto, two days after Hancock took an awkward tumble when making a leaping tag for a putout in Friday’s loss.
Hancock’s injury is classified as a left adductor strain, and is retroactive to Saturday -- meaning he would first be eligible to return on Sept. 12, when the Mariners are in West Sacramento facing the A’s.
In a corresponding move, reliever Nick Davila was added from Seattle’s taxi squad to its bullpen as a fresh arm.
Meanwhile, it appears that Bryce Miller could be making an immediate return to the Mariners’ rotation, though the club has not said yet confirmed if that’s the case.
Miller was seen throwing a lengthy bullpen before Sunday’s matinee at Rogers Centre -- custom for a pitcher on a starter’s workload -- which would keep him as an option to start in Hancock’s place on Wednesday. At the very least, doing so eliminated any chance of Miller pitching in relief on Sunday.
Hancock, who went through a light pregame workout that included catch play, was seen watching Miller in the bullpen but did not throw himself. It’s also possible that the Mariners consider another stretched out arm for the series finale against the Red Sox, considering that rosters expand on Tuesday.
Regardless, losing Hancock for at least two weeks is a blow for a team clawing to remain in the American League playoff race.
Hancock has a career-best 3.57 ERA over a career-high 138 2/3 innings in what’s been a breakout season. He might not be their best starter, but he has been among their more consistent.
Miller, meanwhile, had just been moved to a bullpen role on Friday -- which the club announced just hours before Hancock took that tumble. That decision was primarily related to Miller’s struggles extending for nearly two months, and the fact that the Mariners called up No. 1 pitching prospect Kade Anderson the weekend prior.
Seattle preferred not sticking to a six-man rotation, which left Miller as the odd man out. He wasn’t thrilled about the decision, but had accepted it.
Over his past eight starts, all Mariners losses, Miller has carried a 7.19 ERA and opponents have an .893 OPS against him. If Miller does start on Wednesday, he’d be doing so after nine days’ rest.