JUNE 4, 2021•MLB.COM
How will Seattle handle Lewis' absence?SEATTLE -- Kyle Lewis is out for the foreseeable future, possibly a matter of months, representing a huge blow for the Mariners and the reig...
Sergio Romo - Marked improvement in recent weeksRomo has pitched to a 2.84 ERA and 1.03 WHIP while generating a 14:5 K:BB and three holds over the 12.2 innings covering his last 15 appearances.
ImpactThe veteran right-hander has lowered his season ERA well over six full runs from 12.79 to 6.16 during that stretch, which dates back to April 25. Additionally, three of the four earned runs he surrendered in the sample came in a May 23 outing against the Angels, underscoring how consistently effective he's been otherwise. The improvement was drastically needed after Romo, an offseason acquisition aimed at replacing the departed Joakim Soria, opened the season by allowing at least one earned run in five of his first seven trips to the mound.
JUNE 3, 2021•ROTOWIRE
Shed Long Jr. - Rehab continues successfullyLong (shin) has hit safely in each of his first four rehab games with Triple-A Tacoma, compiling two doubles, an RBI, two walks and four runs across 22 plate appearances.
ImpactJust as important, Long has been able to put in a full game at second base in each instance, certainly an encouraging sign after his erratic recovery process from shin surgery last fall. If Long continues free of setbacks, it's certainly possible he could be deemed ready for a 2021 big-league debut well before June is out.
JUNE 3, 2021•ROTOWIRE
Kendall Graveman - Out of quarantineGraveman (COVID-19 protocols) is out of quarantine and has rejoined the team in Seattle, Daniel Kramer of MLB.com reports.
ImpactGraveman hasn't pitched since May 16 since he's been on the COVID-19 injured list, so he'll need to build his workload back up before he returns to major-league games. The righty could require simulated games or a rehab assignment before he's cleared to rejoin the Mariners' bullpen, but he appears to be trending in the right direction.
JUNE 3, 2021•ROTOWIRE
Elvis Andrus - Key contributions in winAndrus went 2-for-4 with a double and a run in a win over the Mariners on Wednesday.
ImpactAndrus not only kept his torrid stretch at the plate going with his fourth multi-hit effort in the last nine games, but he also was credited by none other than Mariners manager Scott Servais for wearing out his starter Chris Flexen with an epic 13-pitch at-bat that ultimately culminated in the veteran shortstop's second two-bagger in as many nights. The 32-year-old is hitting .438 over the 29 plate appearances he's logged during the aforementioned hot streak, boosting his season slash line from .174/.219/.221 to .211/.259/.269 in the process.
JUNE 3, 2021•ROTOWIRE
Matt Chapman - Snaps long skid in winChapman went 2-for-3 with a walk and a run in a win over the Mariners on Wednesday.
ImpactThe struggling third baseman entered Wednesday's contest having produced an unacceptable .073/.231/.073 slash line and 30.8 percent strikeout rate across the 52 plate appearances covering his previous 13 games. However, Chapman managed to vault his average back over the Mendoza Line with his first multi-hit effort since May 18, the game prior to the beginning of the skid. Despite Wednesday's success, Chapman's season .205 average and .653 OPS are significantly below his career norms, although he's offered fantasy managers some solace by lacing one-third of his 39 hits for extra bases (six doubles, two triples, five home runs), helping lead to 21 RBI.
JUNE 3, 2021•ROTOWIRE
Mark Canha - Plates three WednesdayCanha went 1-for-5 with a two-run single, an RBI fielder's choice and a run in a win over the Mariners on Wednesday.
ImpactCanha continues to make plenty of outs -- he's a miserable 3-for-25 over his last six games -- but timely hitting over the last pair of contests has led to four total RBI. The veteran is starting to accumulate some RBI production apart from what's directly stemmed from his barrage of solo homers, as prior to those most recent four RBI, he'd driven in just 15 runs despite having slugged 10 round trippers.
JUNE 3, 2021•ROTOWIRE
