The Mariners Wednesday placed LHP Charlie Furbush on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left triceps muscle and replaced him on the 25-man roster with RHP Steve Delabar, who was optioned to AAA Tacoma Tuesday to make room for the return of RHP Blake Beavan. The Mariners said Delabar would be available for Wednesday night’s game in Kansas City, the third in a four-game series with the Royals.
Furbush, 26, exited Tuesday’s 9-6 win over the Royals after retiring the only batter he faced in the seventh inning. Furbush had been 4-2, 2.17 ERA (9 ER, 37.1 IP) with 47 strikeouts in 34 relief appearances with the Mariners. He has held left-handed hitters to a .155 (9×58) batting average with 27 strikeouts.
Since May 1, Furbush has a 1.15 ERA (4 ER, 31.1 IP) with 39 strikeouts, including a 22.2 consecutive scoreless streak May 17-June 30.
Delabar, 28, was optioned to Triple-A Tacoma Tuesday and has gone 2-1 with a 4.18 ERA (15 ER, 32.1 IP) in 30 appearances over three prior stints with the Mariners (March 28-May 30, June 13-16, June 29-July 16).
He has recorded 44 strikeouts for a 12.25 K/9.0 IP ratio, while also allowing 8 home runs. With Tacoma this season, Delabar has gone 0-1 with a 3.75 ERA (5 ER, 12.0 IP) in 9 appearances.
Manager Eric Wedge said after Tuesday’s game that the injury to Furbush did not appear to be serious, but it apparently was more serious than Wedge thought.
The Mariners, who will send Kevin Millwood to the mound Wednesday, finish the series at Thursday with an 11 a.m. game.They begin a three-game, weekend series at Tampa Bay Friday.
