PEORIA, Ariz. -- After missing four days with nasty head colds, Mariners standouts Robinson Cano and Nelson Cruz were back working out with the club on Monday morning, though neither was in the lineup for the afternoon's game against the Padres.
Both players said they were feeling better, and manager Scott Servais is hopeful they'll be able to return to action Tuesday against the D-backs in Peoria.
The Mariners will have four Cactus League games remaining after Monday, as well as an off-day on Thursday, and Servais feels it's enough to get his two standouts ready for Opening Day next Monday in Houston.
Cano and Cruz competed for the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic, then they played two games with the Mariners last Tuesday and Wednesday before coming down sick.
"If these guys were 24 years old, I'd probably be a little more concerned," Servais said. "With where they're at in their careers, these guys know. And a week and a half ago, they were playing at a very high competitive level. So I think they'll be fine. I'm not worried about that.
"But I do want to get them in a few games. They want that. They looked better today. They had a little better look in their eye. The last couple days, it didn't look so good at all. The medicine is taking effect, and that's good."
Cruz and Cano aren't the only regulars missing action of late. Left fielder Jarrod Dyson has sat out the past week to rest a sore hamstring, which means the Mariners have been without their Nos. 1, 3 and 4 hitters.
The speedy Dyson tested the leg on Sunday and planned to get 10-12 at-bats in Minor League games on Monday, just taking his swings and staying off the basepaths in order to keep his timing sharp.
Servais said he didn't know whether Dyson would play Tuesday, but he hopes to finally get the rest of his lineup together as the spring winds down over the rest of the week.