HOUSTON — A few hours before their last-gasp series against the rival Astros, the Mariners’ hottest hitter was recognized as the American League Player of the Week.
The Mariners will need Julio Rodriguez to keep it going this week to keep their slight playoff chances alive.
Rodriguez earned his fourth AL Player of the Week nod after hitting .433 (13 for 30) with one double, three home runs, nine RBI and one stolen base in six games last week, posting a .452 on-base percentage, .767 slugging percentage (1.218 OPS) and continuing the Mariners’ offensive rebirth from the past few weeks.
The Astros, with their magic number at two games, need to win over the Mariners to clinch their seventh AL West title in eight years.
The Mariners snapped a three-game winning streak Sunday against the Rangers when they blew a five-run sixth-inning lead in an eventual 6-5 loss, putting a major dent in their playoff chances.
The Mariners came into Monday two games back of the Tiger and Royals for the final AL wild-card berth, and one game back of the Twins, but it’s effectively a three-game deficit because all three of those of teams hold tiebreaker advantages over the Mariners.
“We all know what’s at stake,” manager Dan Wilson said Monday afternoon. “Offensively, we need to continue to do the things we’ve been doing — scoring runs, adding on — and we’ll be in good shape.”
Santos activated from IL
Back in the Mariners bullpen, Gregory Santos says he’s full-go and eager to help the team for the final week of the season.
“I’m going to give everything I can,” the right-handed reliever said after being activated from the injured list Monday afternoon.
Santos, 25, has appeared in just six games with the Mariners in his first season with the club. He missed the entire first half of the season with a right latissimus dorsi strain.
He landed back on the injured list at the beginning of August with a right biceps inflammation.
He said the latest injury was a nerve issue in his biceps, and that it took some time to diagnose.
“We couldn’t figure out exactly where it was,” he said.
Given his injury history, Santos was asked if he needed to consider changing his workout regime in any way.
“I think the thing I need to change is my body,” he deadpanned. “I’ve tried everything. I’ve tried different stuff to try to stay healthy. And the results are, you know, I haven’t been healthy that much. But we’re here and we’re working through it.”
Santos made six rehab appearances with Triple-A Tacoma this month, allowing one run with seven walks and six strikeouts in 5.1 innings.
Left-hander Jhonathan Diaz was optioned to Tacoma to make room for Santos.
Alvarez out with knee injury
Houston slugger Yordan Alvarez was out of the lineup for Monday’s series opener because of an inflamed right knee.
Alvarez injured the knee on an awkward slide into second Sunday afternoon against the Angels. He immediately left the game.
Astros manager Joe Espada told reporters that Alvarez was scheduled to have an MRI on Monday afternoon.
Gilbert to start Tuesday
After Monday’s 6-1 victory, Wilson announced that Logan Gilbert, as expected, would start Tuesday’s second game of the series against the Astros.
By starting Tuesday, Gilbert will also be available Sunday to start the final game of the season against the Oakland A’s.
Wilson would not commit to a starter for Wednesday’s finale in Houston. George Kirby is the likely starter Wednesday on regular rest.
Luis Castillo (hamstring) is eligible to return from the injured list Tuesday, but it might make most sense for him to get a couple extra days and start Friday’s series opener against the A’s.
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