Mariners maintain playoff cushion despite series losses, injury to Julio Rodriguez

The Mariners are rapidly approaching their first playoff berth in 21 years – but they’ll need to navigate much of the season’s final homestand without their superstar outfielder.

Julio Rodriguez, the clear-cut favorite in the American League’s Rookie of the Year race, was placed on Seattle’s 10-day injured list Friday with a lower back strain.

The 21-year-old is barely older than his team’s playoff drought. He doubled on the first pitch of Thursday’s series finale in Oakland and later scored on Mitch Haniger’s single, but felt his back “kind of grab on him” while jogging to center field minutes later, in the words of manager Scott Servais.

Rodriguez was clearly uncomfortable. Haniger, nearby in right field, quickly took notice. Servais, joined by a trainer, trekked out to remove him from the contest. It was the latest flare-up of a lingering injury he had closely monitored, sidelining him for three games (Sept. 17-19) last week in Anaheim.

An MRI later in Kansas City revealed unwanted news: Rodriguez would require a 10-day IL stint.

“Julio has not (only) had a fantastic rookie year. He does so much for our team, energy-wise, top of the lineup,” Servais said Saturday. “And he’s putting together one of those seasons where he’s leading the charge up the hill.”

Servais first deemed the injury “concerning.” He was admittedly hopeful Rodriguez could avoid such an absence, but trainers and medical staff believe the 10-day stint should provide the rookie outfielder with enough time to nurse the strain.

“We need to do the right thing here,” Servais added. “Let’s let this thing calm down.”

Rodriguez’s abrupt departure reopened center field duties for Jarred Kelenic – recalled from Triple-A Tacoma a day earlier – albeit in a short-term role. He quickly took advantage of his first major league game action since Aug. 10 with a 2-for-3 performance Thursday, powering the Mariners to a 9-5 win over the A’s to avoid a sweep.

“Every team has to deal with these things throughout the year. We’ve got to find a way to step up.” Servais said.

“We will.”

Seattle couldn’t rebound in Friday’s opener in Kansas City. Catcher Cal Raleigh launched a solo homer to right field in the second inning, but it was all the offense would muster.

Raleigh was the hero Saturday — the 25-year-old’s 444-foot missile to Kauffman Stadium’s right field seats tied that game in the sixth, and Seattle held on for a 6-5 win.

“What a season (Cal’s) had,” Servais said Saturday, “and on a night where, maybe, you’re trying to give him a little rest. You look up, we’re down in the game, and you’ve got to fire him in there.”

And despite a disastrous collapse and 13-12 loss Sunday — Seattle allowed 11 runs in the sixth inning and blew a nine-run lead — the Mariners remain in an excellent playoff position.

They are realistically chased only by Baltimore (79-73), still four games behind. It’s a virtual five-game lead, as Seattle owns a head-to-head tiebreaker.

Their odds to clinch a playoff spot sat at 98.7 percent Sunday afternoon, per Baseball Reference.

KELENIC’S INSTANT SUCCESS

Jarred Kelenic’s path to Thursday’s heroic performance was anything but straightforward and well-paved.

The recently-turned 23-year-old’s season featured two stints with Triple-A Tacoma, the latest ending Wednesday when Seattle recalled Kelenic from the Rainiers and activated catcher Luis Torrens.

Concern remained regarding Kelenic’s strikeout rate in earlier major league stints, attached to a dwindling batting average from April on. But there he was, inside the Oakland Coliseum for a rather important series finale, considering Seattle had already lost the series and was on the brink of being swept.

In his first major league at-bat since returning Thursday, Kelenic worked a two-out, first-inning walk to load the bases. Outfielder Jesse Winker’s ensuing walk plated Ty France, upping an early 3-0 lead.

Kelenic refused to chase, impressing Servais. “Man, he looks much calmer,” he told major league field coordinator Carson Vitale, beside him in Oakland’s visiting dugout.

And despite an uncharacteristic start from blossoming rookie starter George Kirby, Kelenic’s later heroics nullified Oakland’s five-run third inning.

Kelenic launched a first-pitch homer to the Coliseum’s right field seats in the fourth inning, pulling Seattle back within one. In the sixth, he poked another base hit to right-center and hustled to second for a sliding double which scored Ty France and tied the game.

Seattle’s bullpen picked up the slack with 6 ⅔ scoreless relief innings and the Mariners held on for a 9-5 win, avoiding a sweep at the hands of the team positioned firmly in the division’s cellar.

“I’m really happy for Jarred Kelenic,” Servais began. “It has not been easy for him. We talked when he got in yesterday. It’s just about doing whatever you can to help us win a game.

“And he did more than that today.”

Kelenic’s most-recent 33-game stint in Triple-A featured improved (and sustained) numbers – he slashed .307/.384/.567 with seven homers and 28 RBI from Aug. 11 to Sept. 18. What struck Servais was Kelenic’s strikeout rate, down to 15.8 percent across that span.

Throughout last September’s postseason push – one that ultimately fell short on the season’s final day – Servais remembered Kelenic’s focus and desire to do “whatever would help us win the game that day.”

“And that’s what happens in September. Your numbers are kind of your numbers. The season’s behind you,” Servais said. “But what can you do to help the team win that day?”

“When Jarred’s in that mode, like a lot of players, they play much better. They play freer. Hopefully, that’s what we see.”

When Kelenic rejoined his Seattle teammates Wednesday, Servais was wary of guaranteeing him regular outfield time. But that plan turned dramatically when Rodriguez exited the game with a back strain and Jesse Winker left Sunday’s game with a left wrist bruise after taking a 94-mph fastball to the hand, per Mariners PR.

Kelenic’s 2-for-5 performance Saturday ballooned his three-game slash line to .417/.462/.917 since Seattle recalled him.

SHORT HOPS

– Third baseman Eugenio Suarez remains on the 10-day injured list with a right index finger fracture but took batting practice Saturday in Kansas City and “feels great,” per Servais. Suarez hasn’t thrown a baseball yet, though it isn’t expected he’ll return to Seattle’s infield soon.

He could return to the lineup as designated hitter as early as this week, Servais said.

– Seattle recalled OF Jarred Kelenic and selected the contract of C Luis Torrens, announced in a release Wednesday. In a corresponding move, Seattle designated INF Jake Lamb for assignment and optioned OF Taylor Trammell to Triple-A Tacoma.

The latter was recalled to fill the absence of OF Julio Rodriguez, who was placed on the injured list Friday (back strain).

Lamb declined his outright assignment and elected free agency. He was 5-for-30 (.167) with one home run and three walks in 16 games after Seattle acquired him from the Los Angeles Dodgers on Aug. 2.

ON DECK

Seattle concludes the regular season with a 10-game, three-series homestand, beginning Tuesday.

The Texas Rangers visit T-Mobile Park first for a three-game set (Sept. 27-29) with Tuesday’s first pitch scheduled for 6:40 p.m. PT.