The Mariners lost to the Angels 8-7 on Friday night, but the bigger loss could be Eugenio Suarez, who left the game with a right index finger injury.
In the grand scheme of things, the Mariners losing to the Angels on Friday night isn’t particularly detrimental to their playoff chances. As of Saturday morning they have a five-game lead over the nearest challenger outside the three AL wild card spots.
Of more concern is the potential bigger loss of Eugenio Suarez, who left the game with a right index finger injury. This was initially caused on a groundout which ended the fourth inning.
The injury was then aggravated during Suarez’s at-bat in the top of the fifth, after swinging his bat on a fly out. He was subsequently replaced by Abraham Toro in the following inning.
At the time of writing, X-rays are inclusive. An update can be expected sometime during Saturday, after the 2018 All-Star undergoes more X-rays, as well as an MRI.
If it turns out Suarez will be missing for an extended period of time, this will be a big blow to the Mariners’ lineup. He has been their most durable player in 2022, with him leading the team in home runs and RBIs.
Clubhouse leader
Additionally, the third basemen’s defense makes him one Seattle’s most reliable players. Throw in his veteran leadership, and there is little doubt he would be sorely missed.
Suarez spoke to the media about his injury after the game. He said:
“I couldn’t grip my bat 100 percent, so when I took my first swing that bothered me a lot. That’s why I had to get taken out of the game, because we wanted to see what happened. That’s all I have right now. I tried to make that throw, but it was bothering me. The swelling doesn’t make me throw very comfortably, so that’s why I came out of the game … It’s frustrating. I want to be there to help my team and help the guys that believe in me. I want to play everyday. Hopefully I will be back soon.”
Potential replacements
Assuming Suarez does miss time, Jake Lamb will be first up to replace him. However, in the event of an extended absence, Dylan Moore is another candidate once he completes his Triple-A rehab assignment.
While nothing is clear yet, manager Scott Servais is understandably worried. He said:
“It is concerning, no doubt. Geno has been so huge for us, on both sides of the ball.”
Along with Jesse Winker, Suarez was obtained in a trade from the Cincinnati Reds in March this year. The irony of his injury is he has been remarkably healthy for the majority of his nine-year Major League career.
If Suarez is out for an extended period of time, how do you see it impacting the Mariners? Do you believe they will be fine, or are you concerned it will have a negative effect on the team? Let us know in the comments section below.
