Seattle Mariners: Hisashi Iwakuma becomes fourth M’s starter on DL

The Seattle Mariners’ pitching staff can’t catch a break. On Wednesday, the Mariners placed another starter on the DL, Hisashi Iwakuma.

For the fourth time this season, the Seattle Mariners placed a starting pitcher on the disabled list. On Wednesday, the Mariners put right-handed starter Hisashi Iwakuma on the 10-day DL with right shoulder inflammation, per Seattle Times reporter Ryan Divish. He also tweeted that Iwakuma was on his way to Seattle for an MRI.

In six games pitched in 2017, Iwakuma owned a 4.35 ERA, 1.258 WHIP, 0-2 record and 16 strikeouts. In his most recent outing against the Los Angeles Angels, Iwakuma took a comeback line drive off the bat of Andrelton Simmons to his left knee. Despite the soreness, Iwakuma planned on starting today, but the inflammation landed him on the DL instead.

The Mariners can’t keep their starting pitchers off the DL right now. On April 4, the Mariners placed their newly acquired left-handed starter Drew Smyly on the 60-day DL with a flexor strain in his left elbow. He became the first Mariners starter on the DL in 2017.

Then on April 26, the Mariners put Felix Hernandez on the 10-day DL. He, like Iwakuma, suffered right shoulder inflammation.

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The biggest loss for the club in 2017 so far has been James Paxton. Just six days ago, the Mariners placed him on the DL with a forearm strain. Paxton established himself as the current ace of the club after a stellar start to 2017. He owns the second-best ERA in baseball right now at 1.43. He also sports a 3-0 record.

The Mariners current starting rotation consists of Ariel Miranda, Yovani Gallardo, Chase De Jong, Dillon Overton and Christian Bergman. Miranda and Gallardo need to step up in the absence of the other starters.

Despite the four injuries to the starting rotation, the Mariners (17-17) sit in second place in the AL West. However, they are six games back of the hot Houston Astros.

The Mariners pitching staff as a whole owns a 4.56 ERA, which ranks 25th in baseball. They are also 25th in batting average against. They rank 21st in quality starts with 13.

Next: Giants place Mark Melancon on 10-day DL

With all the injuries to the rotation, it’s a surprise the Mariners are at .500 right now. Although, if Iwakuma, Smyly, Paxton and Hernandez can come off the DL and succeed, the Mariners might make a run at the Astros for the AL West crown. That’s if they can survive the time that all these players remain on the DL.