DETROIT _ On Wednesday came a myriad of Mariners roster moves following their worst day of the 2017 season. Less than 24 hours after they were drubbed by the Tigers 19-9, losing both Felix Hernandez and Mitch Haniger to injuries, the Mariners had to try and regroup with roster reinforcements to replace what was lost and what wasn't working.
In all four players are coming up, two are going back to Tacoma and two are headed to the disabled list.
_Mitch Haniger, OF, placed on 10-day disabled list with strained right oblique.
_Felix Hernandez, RHP, placed on 10-day disabled list with right shoulder inflammation.
_Chase De Jong, RHP, recalled from Triple-A Tacoma.
_Casey Fien, RHP, selected from Triple-A Tacoma.
_Ben Gamel, OF, recalled from Triple-A Tacoma.
_Dillon Overton, LHP, recalled from Triple-A Tacoma.
_Chris Heston, RHP, optioned to Triple-A Tacoma.
_Evan Marshall, RHP, optioned to Triple-A Tacoma.
"We've got some healthy bodies," manager Scott Servais said. "Hopefully they spark us, that would be great."
Obviously, the first two moves are the most important. Haniger figures to be out at least four weeks with most oblique strains taking that long and sometimes longer. Hernandez goes on the disabled list for the second straight season, but this is his first disabled list stint for something arm related since 2007.
Servais had no timetable for their return. Both players received treatment in Detroit on Wednesday afternoon and are flying back to Seattle later in the day. Since they were placed on the disabled list, there isn't a need rush them back to Seattle immediately. They will undergo tests to determine the extent of their injuries.
Hernandez didn't want to discuss his injury, saying "they said everything already."
Asked in passing if was he was scared, he replied, "yeah."
Servais said that Hernandez didn't have any signs for the shoulder issue coming into the start on Wednesday.
"Often times, with pitchers in their routines and work in between starts, they won't feel great, maybe a little soggy or whatever term you want to use," Servais said. "He didn't feel real great warming up last night. That happens a lot and guys will still go out there and give you five, six, seven innings and a great outing. He went out for the second inning and just didn't feel great, just dead. No sharp pain, nothing like that. Just the ball wasn't coming out and wasn't feeling good. He certainly didn't look good from where I was sitting."
De Jong will take Hernandez's spot in the rotation and start Sunday in Cleveland. He pitched four innings of scoreless relief on Saturday in Oakland.
"We liked the way Chase threw the ball the other day when he came in for the long relief appearance the other day in Oakland," Servais said. "He moved the ball around very well. He's more of a starting pitcher type. You saw him, it takes a little while for him to get ready out of the bullpen. He's got more of a routine there. So we'll give him the first shot to take that start."
Gamel's call-up was happening before the injury. The Mariners were going to add another bench players and go away from the eight-man bullpen. He was hitting .288 with a .419 on-base percentage, a double, a triple, a homer, 12 walks and eight RBI for the Rainiers in 18 games.
"I don't think I'm where I need to be but I've been able to put together some good at-bats, and I'm just trying to build off that," he said.
With Kyle Seager out of the lineup for a fourth straight game with a hip injury, Gamel was immediately inserted into the lineup Wednesday night in right field with Taylor Motter playing third. But it's likely that the trio of Motter, Gamel and Guillermo Heredia could split up the outfield duties. Danny Valencia could also figure into right field on occasion.
"Once we get Kyle back that will change some things a little bit with Motter's flexibility and how he moves the around field," Servais said.
Both Heston and Marshall pitched in relief of Hernandez when he left the game after the second inning. Neither looked particularly sharp, combining to give up 12 runs on 14 hits.
Fien and Overton will pitch out of the bullpen. Overton will serve as the long reliever, while Fien will pitch in early middle relief. Fien, who made the opening day 25-man roster, was designated for assignment on April 10 and outrighted to Tacoma. He had to be added to the 40-man roster, taking the spot left vacant from the DFA of Leonys Martin.
