Mariners likely without ace James Paxton for up to 3 weeks
SEATTLE — In the middle of the wild-card race in the American League, the Seattle Mariners will likely be without left-handed ace James Paxton for at least three weeks because of a pectoral strain.
Paxton was put on the 10-day disabled list on Friday, a day after he was pulled in the seventh inning of his start against the Los Angeles Angels. Paxton was optimistic it was a minor injury, but an MRI on Friday morning confirmed a stint on the disabled list and another blow for the Mariners’ post-season chances.
Seattle started Friday tied for the second wild card spot in the AL, but with six teams separated by less than two games. But Paxton becomes the third starter from Seattle’s projected rotation at the beginning of the season to be on the disabled list late in the year, joining Felix Hernandez and Hisashi Iwakuma.
It’s Paxton’s second stint on the DL this season after missing 24 games in May with a forearm strain.