SEATTLE -- Emerson Hancock¡¯s stay within the Mariners¡¯ rotation, at least in his first stint, came to an end on Tuesday when the right-hander was optioned to Triple-A Tacoma, one night after he surrendered six runs and failed to make it out of the first inning.
In a corresponding move, Seattle selected the contract of left-hander Jhonathan Díaz, who was brought in to provide coverage for a bullpen that pitched 8 1/3 innings in a 9-6 loss to the Tigers.
Additionally, third baseman Jorge Polanco was out of Tuesday¡¯s lineup after his wife went into labor, and he was placed on the paternity list. Infielder Leo Rivas was recalled from Tacoma to take his spot.
Polanco, who is off to the best start among Seattle¡¯s lineup (6-for-15 with a game-winning homer on Opening Day), is expected to be out until this weekend¡¯s series against the Giants. The birth is taking place in Seattle, so he will have proximity to the team to make a quick return.
Hancock, however, must remain down for 15 days, including Tuesday, unless there¡¯s an injury-related roster move, meaning the earliest he could return is April 16, when the Mariners are in Cincinnati.
Seattle has three off-days until then -- including Thursday -- that it could conceivably work around to re-slot the rotation if they¡¯d like to avoid using D¨ªaz, veteran journeyman Casey Lawrence, No. 10 prospect Logan Evans or any other options for the No. 5 rotation spot, which is in a holding pattern until George Kirby returns from right shoulder inflammation.
If the Mariners re-slot, Logan Gilbert -- who struck out 10 on Tuesday but was plagued by zero run support while over five innings in a 4-1 loss -- could pitch Sunday¡¯s series finale at Oracle Park, followed by Luis Castillo on Monday vs. the Astros in Seattle.
Both are their workhorses and would be on regular rest, but they¡¯d then need a starter for Tuesday, as Bryce Miller would be on three days¡¯ rest. The Astros are obviously as important an opponent that the Mariners face all season.
¡°We're looking at everything at this point,¡± Mariners manager Dan Wilson said. ¡°So we'll see how things develop as we go. But there are a lot of options on the table, given a lot of the off-days that we have coming up.¡±
There¡¯s also consideration to the early-season stages and the fact that the Mariners¡¯ rotation was mostly operating on a six-day schedule in Spring Training. Miller and Bryan Woo¡¯s numbers are much better with the extra day, too, and the Mariners hinted that they¡¯ll be deliberate with Woo¡¯s workload early.
It¡¯s also possible that if D¨ªaz doesn¡¯t pitch in the next few days, he could get Sunday¡¯s assignment.
¡°We have to weigh those things, and you look at it,¡± Wilson said. ¡°But these guys have been through it before. They know how to do it. They know what to expect. And it's just a matter of communicating as best we can.¡±
Wilson didn¡¯t have much of an update on Kirby on Tuesday, and Mariners general manager Justin Hollander -- who provides formal injury updates, typically, at the outset of each homestand -- isn¡¯t expected to speak on Kirby¡¯s status until Monday, when the Mariners return from their weekend series vs. the Giants.
Kirby began playing catch on March 21, two weeks after he was shut down, and at that time was optimistic for a late-April return if all went well.
¡°George is on track where he's supposed to be, continuing to throw down in Arizona for us,¡± Wilson said. ¡°And I know he's anxious to get back, obviously, but we'll continue to follow the protocol and he'll get out there as soon as he can.¡±
D¨ªaz was added to the 40-man roster, which had been at 39 players, and did not make an appearance for Tacoma in their season-opening series vs. Round Rock.
He pitched in three Cactus games, surrendering eight runs on 14 hits and two walks over 6 2/3 innings before being reassigned to Minors camp on March 10. D¨ªaz made one spot start last season, for Woo on June 11, and five outings total, carrying a 4.66 ERA.
In other injury news, reliever Troy Taylor (right lat strain) began his rehab assignment with Tacoma on Tuesday, surrendering two runs on four hits with one strikeout. Matt Brash (Tommy John surgery) is also expected to pitch for the Rainiers in the coming days.