Mariners' Colt Emerson out of lineup again; Matt Brash lands on injured list

BALTIMORE - Colt Emerson has made progress in his recovery from what he described as a super minor" back ailment, but the Mariners bullpen took another hit when Matt Brash landed on the injured list Wednesday afternoon.

One of the team's most important relievers, Brash has a right lat strain that landed him back on the 15-day IL, just a few weeks after he'd returned from right lat inflammation.

This is the third straight day the Mariners have placed someone on the IL, after shortstop J.P. Crawford (hand) on Monday and reliever Cooper Criswell (right shoulder strain) on Tuesday.

"It seems like something's happening every day on that front," manager Dan Wilson said.

Brash threw 18 pitches in the seventh inning of Monday's game, only eight of which were strikes. He nearly beaned two batters in the head and did plunk Taylor Ward with a 98-mph sinker.

In 22 appearances, Brash has allowed only one earned run this season.

He spent three weeks on the IL in May and had made six appearances since his return on May 20. The Mariners have been especially cautious with his usage, careful not to use him on back-to-back days since his return.

"Losing Matty to the IL is tough, no question about it," Wilson said. "He's such a big part of our bullpen and had such a great start."

Wilson did not have a timeline on Brash's recovery period.

Two other All-Star hitters, Cal Raleigh and Brendan Donovan, remain on the injured list.

Raleigh hit two homers Tuesday in a rehab game with Tacoma and there's optimism he'll be back with the Mariners within the next week.

Donovan (groin strain) is still in Arizona working with the club's training staff there. He has yet to start a rehab assignment.

Emerson, the 20-year-old rookie standout, is hopeful he can return to the lineup Thursday.

He first felt tightness in his back at the end of pregame drills Monday afternoon. He said he experienced similar back spasms earlier this season in Triple-A Tacoma, and that kept him out for three days.

"It was one of those things where your back locks up and you can't really twist and turn," Emerson said. "So you're more being detrimental to the team than you are (feeling like) yourself at that point."

Emerson did take swings in the batting cages Wednesday afternoon, something he wasn't able to do the day before.

Versatility from 'Mastro'

Right-hander Domingo González has been added to the bullpen to take Brash's roster spot.

Veteran utility player Miles Mastrobuoni, meanwhile, was activated from the 60-day IL after recovering from a right calf strain suffered during spring training.

Infielder Ryan Bliss was optioned back to Triple-A, and Tacoma reliever Yosver Zulueta was designated for assignment to make room for Mastrobuoni on the 40-man roster.

With Crawford and Emerson out, and with Cole Young shifting over to play shortstop, Bliss made his first two starts of the season at second base in the Mariners' wins in Baltimore, and he made two key defensive plays late in Tuesday's extra-innings victory.

Wilson said it was a "very difficult conversation" with Bliss to option him.

"It's always a difficult conversation. I can't thank our guys enough; they're extremely professional about it," Wilson said. "It's a tough blow for him, for sure, but certainly appreciated what he did here the last couple of days."

Mastrobuoni was in Wednesday's lineup for his season debut, playing second and batting eighth.

In 76 games for the Mariners, Mastrobuoni played five different fielding positions last season (and made one appearance as a pitcher in a blowout loss at Minnesota).

"We're in a spot here where we're particularly a little bit banged up," Wilson said. "Guys are feeling it a little bit as we get into this long road trip, and having (Mastrobuoni's) versatility is big.

A left-handed hitter, Mastrobuoni is also a preferred matchup for the rest of this East Coast road trip. The M's are expected to face right-handed starting pitchers for the final two games in Baltimore and all three against the Nationals in Washington D.C.

Programming note

The Mariners-Orioles series finale Thursday will be televised exclusively on ESPN. Bryan Woo is scheduled to start for the Mariners opposite Orioles right-hander Kyle Bradish.

First pitch is scheduled for 4:05 p.m. PT.

CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story stated Colt Emerson was going on the injured list. Emerson was out of Wednesday's lineup but is not on the IL.

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This story was originally published June 10, 2026 at 5:03 PM.