The Mariners Wednesday placed sore-footed RHP Taijuan Walker on the 15-day disabled list hours after Walker said that he could no longer pitch effectively. Seattle also made four other roster moves, including optioning C Mike Zunino back to the AAA Tacoma Rainiers. Walker absorbed a 5-2 loss Tuesday night in Houston when he allowed three home runs in four innings, after which he said it made no sense trying to pitch through his tendinitis problem.
To replace Walker, the Mariners recalled LHP David Rollins from the Rainiers. They also activated C Jesus Sucre from the 60-day disabled list. Rollins and Sucre were available to the Mariners Wednesday night for the third and final game against the Astros at Minute Maid Park.
In a final move, the Mariners transferred C Steve Clevenger to the 60-day DL with a fractured third metacarpal on his right hand.
In four relief appearances over two stints with the Mariners this season Rollins gave up no runs and had four strikeouts and three walks. Rollins was optioned to Tacoma Tuesday after posting three scoreless relief appearances.
Rollins was selected by Seattle from Houston in the Rule 5 draft in 2014. In parts of two seasons with Seattle, Rollins is 0-2 with a 6.52 ERA in 24 games.
Sucre, 28, was batting .158 in five games on a rehab assignment with Tacoma. Prior to that stint, Sucre hit .400 with three RBIs in four games on a rehab assignment with the AZL Mariners. Sucre had been on the 60-day disabled list since March 1 after having surgery to repair damage in his right ankle.
Sucre spent most of the 2015 season with Seattle, batting .157 with one home run and seven RBIs in 50 games. In parts of three MLB seasons, Sucre is a .178 hitter in 79 games.
Walker, 23, was 4-7 with a 3.66 ERA with 80 strikeouts and 18 walks in 16 starts this season. Walker has twice this season equaled a career high with 11 strikeouts in a single game. Walker posted a 1.44 ERA in April, third-best April ERA in Mariners history when making four or more starts.
Zunino, 25, hit .286 (2×7) with two runs, two home runs and three RBIs and one walk in two games with the Mariners after being recalled June 30. Prior to being recalled, Zunino was batting .282 with 15 home runs and 51 RBIs in 69 games with the Rainiers.
Clevenger, 30, hit .221 with one home run and seven RBIs in 22 games with the Mariners before being placed on the 15-day disabled list June 30. He is likely out for the season.
LHP Wade LeBlanc (1-0, 1.50) pitches for Seattle Wednesday night opposite RHP Mike Fiers (6-3, 4.12)..