Next Game: Friday, May 8 at 7:40 pm ET
Brendan Donovan: Activated from IL on Friday
Donovan (groin) is traveling to Chicago to meet the Mariners and will be activated from the 10-day injured list prior to Friday's game against the White Sox, Adam Jude of The Seattle Times reports.
Sidelined for nearly three weeks with a left groin strain, Donovan played one rehab game with Double-A Arkansas, going 1-for-3 with two walks. He was slashing .304/.437/.518 before getting hurt and will return to being the Mariners' everyday third baseman and leadoff man against right-handed pitching, shifting Leo Rivas back to a reserve role.
Emerson Hancock: Move to Bullpen Under Consideration
Hancock could be shifted to a relief role next week when Bryce Miller (oblique) returns, Adam Jude of The Seattle Times reports.
Hancock has put together a breakout season in the early going, posting a 2.59 ERA and 46:6 K:BB over 41.2 innings in his first seven starts. He struck out a career-high 14 batters against the Royals in his last trip to the hill. However, while Hancock has been the Mariners' best starter so far this season, he also has bullpen experience.
Hancock is slated to start Friday's game versus the White Sox, and the Mariners will make decisions on the roles for Hancock, Miller and Luis Castillo in the coming days.
Luis Castillo: Could Get Bumped from Rotation
The Mariners could remove Castillo from the rotation when Bryce Miller (oblique) returns next week, Adam Jude of The Seattle Times reports.
It's just one option the team is mulling, as Miller and Emerson Hancock are also being considered for the bullpen or piggyback roles. It would be an easy decision to bump Castillo from the rotation if it were based purely on performance, as he's posted a 6.29 ERA, 1.66 WHIP and 31:13 K:BB over 34.1 innings in his first seven starts.
However, Castillo has never pitched in relief at the major-league level, while Miller and Hancock both have bullpen experience.