MLB Player News

The Mariners optioned Bliss to Triple-A Tacoma on Monday.

Bliss received his first MLB call-up May 27 and picked up 16 starts at second base in June, but playing time has been more difficult to come by in recent weeks. After Jorge Polanco returned from the injured list June 24 and took back everyday duties at the keystone, Bliss started just two of the Mariners' ensuing 21 games and went 0-for-10 with six strikeouts over that stretch. He'll get the opportunity to play on a more frequent basis with Tacoma.

Erceg (2-3) took the loss against the Angels on Sunday, allowing four earned runs on two hits, a walk, a hit batsman and a wild pitch without retiring a batter.

Erceg was handed a 5-2 lead when he entered in the eighth inning, but the reliever allowed all four batters he faced to reach base before Scott Alexander subsequently allowed all the runners he inherited from Erceg to score. The normally reliable right-hander saw a nine-appearance scoreless streak (8.2 innings) snapped by the disastrous appearance, while his ERA shot up from 2.94 to 4.01.

Moore went 1-for-2 with a two-run triple and a walk in a win over the Astros on Sunday. He was also caught stealing on his only attempt.

The slugging veteran came into the day with just a single extra-base hit -- another three-bagger -- in his previous 16 games, but he snapped that rare drought with a second-inning laser that plated Josh Rojas and Luke Raley to give the Mariners an early 2-0 lead. The two RBI were also Moore's first since June 22, and despite Sunday's success, he's still carrying a .212 batting average that has plenty of room for improvement.

High-A Cedar Rapids reinstated Prielipp (elbow) from its 60-day injured list Monday.

After requiring surgery last July to address a torn UCL in his left elbow, Prielipp opened the season on Cedar Rapids' IL before he was cleared to begin a rehab assignment in the rookie-level Florida Complex League shortly before the All-Star break. He received the green light to rejoin Cedar Rapids after turning in two dazzling rehab outings in the FCL, with the southpaw striking out eight while issuing no walks and allowing just two hits over four scoreless innings between those starts. Prielipp should make his 2024 debut for Cedar Rapids later this week but will likely have his pitch count monitored carefully.

Robles went 2-for-4 with a double and a stolen base in a win over the Astros on Sunday.

The veteran outfielder worked out of the No. 2 spot in the lineup for the second consecutive game and continued validating his bump up the order with his third multi-hit effort in the last five games. Robles also recorded his fifth stolen base in the last four contests after his fifth-inning infield single, and with a .390 average and 1.053 OPS across 49 plate appearances since joining the offensively inconsistent Mariners, his hot bat looks like it will be a mainstay in the lineup for the foreseeable future.

Haniger slotted in as the designated hitter in Sunday's win over the Astros and went 1-for-2 with a walk and a run.

Haniger was logging his second consecutive start after sitting out the last two games before the All-Star break and the first one after the pause in play concluded Friday. The 33-year-old was able to make some offensive contributions, which have been few and far between for him this season in his return from a one-year stay with the Giants. The Mariners notably cut ties with another once-productive veteran in Ty France after Sunday's game, and Haniger may need to give his current .208/.287/.335 slash line a serious boost soon in order to avoid a similar fate.

Toro (hamstring) started at third base and went 0-for-4 in a loss to the Angels on Sunday.

The infielder was activated from the IL earlier in the day, getting his first taste of major-league action in exactly one month. Toro's physical issues seem firmly behind him, and he returns to an Athletics lineup that has suddenly heated up and which could provide him with more run-scoring and RBI opportunities than he enjoyed earlier in the season.

Butler went 2-for-3 with a double, two walks and two runs in a loss to the Angels on Sunday.

Butler turned in a textbook leadoff effort, acting as a thorn in the side of Angels pitching while generating his fourth consecutive multi-hit effort. To say the rookie has flipped a switch at the plate is an understatement -- he's raised his average and OPS by 36 and 128 points, respectively, while also recording a whopping nine RBI during that hot streak.

Poteet (tricep) threw lightly from a mound Friday but has yet to be cleared for full bullpen sessions, MLB.com reports.

Though he isn't moving quickly through his throwing program after being cleared to start playing catch just over two weeks ago, Poteet has thus far avoided any setbacks with his right tricep strain. He made four starts for the Yankees before landing on the 15-day injured list June 18, but he'll likely have to settle for a bullpen role once he's activated, if New York doesn't choose to option him to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre instead.

Cowser went 2-for-4 with a double and a stolen base in Sunday's 3-2 loss to the Rangers.

Cowser has started all three games coming out of the All-Star break, going 4-for-11 with a homer and two steals. The outfielder has provided modest speed this year, going 7-for-9 on stolen base attempts. He's added a .225/.313/.431 slash line, 13 long balls, 36 RBI, 35 runs scored, 14 doubles and a triple through 304 plate appearances. Cowser continues to split his time between left field and center field, resulting in smaller roles for Austin Hays and Cedric Mullins, though Heston Kjerstad is also back in the mix for outfield playing time following his return from a concussion.