Matt Brash Lands on 15-Day IL as Mariners Score Bullpen Hit
mariners score took a hit on April 30 when Seattle placed Matt Brash on the 15-day injured list with lat inflammation. He left Wednesday’s game in Minnesota after throwing two pitches, and the move removes one of the club’s most trusted late-inning arms from a bullpen that had started the year well.
Brash Leaves Minnesota Early
Brash exited after reporting side tightness in Minnesota, then went on the 15-day injured list as the Mariners moved quickly to protect the arm. Justin Hollander said Brash will be shut down for three to five days before he resumes throwing early next week.
“There’s nothing structurally off.” Hollander said. “He’ll resume throwing early next week and doesn’t seem to be in for a lengthy absence.”
That short shutdown is the clearest sign Seattle is treating this as a limited interruption rather than a long-term setback. Brash had been working in the highest-leverage spots aside from Andrés Muñoz, which made him one of the bullpen’s most important options whenever a late lead had to be protected.
Josh Simpson Joins Seattle
Seattle recalled lefty Josh Simpson from Triple-A Tacoma in the corresponding move. Simpson arrived after a strong start in Tacoma, where he struck out 12 batters over 9 1/3 innings of one-run ball, though he also walked six.
The Mariners acquired Simpson from the Marlins over the offseason, and the promotion gives them another left-handed option while Brash is unavailable. Simpson’s own major league background with Miami was rougher; he posted a 7.34 ERA across 31 appearances as a rookie last season.
Seattle Bullpen Depth
Brash’s numbers explain why the injury landed with some weight. He had allowed just one unearned run through his first 11 1/3 innings and ranked second on the team with four holds, production that helped Seattle’s bullpen post a 3.31 earned run average.
That relief group’s ERA trailed only the Rangers and Giants, and it also ranked ninth in whiff rate. Losing Brash trims a unit that had already been getting outs at a strong clip, especially in the innings where Muñoz and the setup crew were asked to finish games.
Seattle has another roster change pending, too. Victor Robles will join Tacoma to begin a rehab assignment on Sunday after missing time since April 7 with a pectoral strain, leaving Luke Raley and Rob Refsnyder to keep sharing right field while Robles works back.
