Bradford (forearm strain) to IL; Festa recalled

June 4th, 2019

SEATTLE -- The Seattle Mariners placed right-hander Chasen Bradford on the 10-day injured list with a right forearm strain on Monday and called up right-hander Matt Festa from Triple-A Tacoma in a corresponding move.

The 29-year-old Bradford pitched two innings and allowed one run in the Mariners’ 13-3 loss to the Angels on Sunday, but he came out experiencing discomfort.

“I thought he did a pretty good job considering the situation of the game,” Mariners manager Scott Servais said Monday. “But he came out and he was a little sore, so we’ll give him some time.”

For the season, Bradford has logged 16 2/3 innings pitched with a 4.86 ERA and a save.

The 26-year-old Festa will fill the void in the Mariners’ bullpen in what will be his third stint with the club this season, including having started the season with Seattle.

In nine innings in the Majors this season, Festa has posted a 6.00 ERA, but he’s caught Servais’ eye in doing so.

“He threw the ball well last time he was here,” Servais said. “He incorporated a little bit different shape to his breaking ball, curveball and his slider. He was very aggressive. I’ve always liked Matt.”

In 14 1/3 innings with Tacoma this season, Festa is 0-1 with a 4.40 ERA and he’s recorded two saves.

Seattle’s bullpen also got some good news with the continuing recovery of right-hander Hunter Strickland, who has another bullpen session scheduled for Tuesday as he recovers from a right lat strain.

Strickland, originally put on the injured list on March 30, threw a 20-pitch bullpen session without incident on Sunday.

“He threw great, really good,” Servais said about Strickland’s session. “I couldn’t be happier with how he’s moving along. Hunter’s worked really hard as well, he’s been out a while. He’s in a good frame of mind, his arm feels great.”