The Seattle Mariners improve their winning streak to a season-high seven games, but potential Josh Naylor injury looms large.
The Mariners are rolling right now, finally playing up to the talent level on their roster. They’re on a season-high seven-game winning streak, back above .500 and leading the AL West. Monday night represented the third extra-innings walk-off win in four games and everything seems good in the world again.
However, one problem remains which has plagued the Mariners all season – injuries. They’re currently absent key players including Cal Raleigh, Brendan Donovan and Carlos Vargas, while having previously been without other quality personnel such as Matt Brash and Bryce Miller. And now, comes the worrying possibility that Josh Naylor will be the latest addition to the casualty list.
Naylor played a pivotal role in the Mariners’ 3-2 win in 10 innings on Monday night versus the Mets, tying the game at 2-2 in the bottom of the seventh with a solo home run. However, he was then replaced by Patrick Wisdom at first base to begin the eighth inning.
Dan Wilson discusses Josh Naylor’s removal from the game
Mariners manager Dan Wilson was asked postgame for clarity on why he pulled Naylor from the game. Wilson said:
“Yeah, he had a back spasm. So (it) just tightened up on him. And just day-to-day, we’ll see how he is tomorrow.”
Wilson was then asked to clarify if Naylor suffered the back spasm on his home run swing, or as a result of a defensive play. He said:
“No, I believe it was more on the swing, you know, on the home run. And when he got back in, it was tight.”
The Mariners of course did right in taking a precautionary approach with Naylor, but the question remains of how serious the issue is? It would be symptomatic of how this season has gone for the team with injuries, if the M’s were to lose him just as Raleigh and Donovan are both closing in on returning to boost the lineup.
Mariners now play the waiting game with Josh Naylor
Naylor admittedly had a rough start to this season, hitting just .102 with two RBI through the Mariners’ first 15 games. However, he’s turned it around since then, including batting .296 during May, in the process producing one home run, three doubles and nine RBI.
The 2024 All-Star proved to be a galvanizing force for the Mariners last season, after arriving in Seattle in late July following a trade from the Diamondbacks. He batted .299 with a .831 OPS and 136 OPS+ in 54 games, to help the team win their first AL West division title since 2001.
Naylor then proved to be even more effective during the playoffs, batting .340 with a .967 OPS as the Mariners came within eight outs of a first ever World Series berth. The result was both sides agreeing on a $92.5 million deal, to keep him in Seattle for these next five seasons.
The 28-year-old is seemingly built for clutch moments, with the home run versus the Mets representing his Major League-leading 39th game-tying or go-ahead hit in the seventh inning or later since 2021. The Mariners and their fans will now keep their fingers crossed that his back spasm issue is nothing serious.
Photos courtesy of Tim Rogers Photography
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