The Mariners reinstated Speier (shoulder) from the 15-day injured list Friday.
A left rotator cuff strain sent Speier to the injured list in the beginning of June, and he'll now return to the Mariners' bullpen after throwing two shutout innings during his rehab assignment. The 29-year-old reliever posted a 6.06 ERA and 1.47 WHIP across 16.1 frames before getting hurt, and he'll likely be limited to middle relief. Mike Baumann was DFA'd in a corresponding move.
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Mariners' Gabe Speier: Scoreless rehab inning Monday
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Speier (shoulder) started the ACL Mariners' loss to the ACL Giants on Monday, firing a scoreless inning during which he allowed a hit and did not record any walks or strikeouts.
Speier got through the opening frame with minimal trouble while completing his second scoreless inning in as many rehab outings. The left-hander completed the first installment of his assignment with Triple-A Tacoma, and previous reports indicated Speier was likely to be activated ahead of the start of the second half of the season Friday if Monday's appearance didn't produce any setbacks.
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Mariners' Gabe Speier: Works one inning in rehab debut
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Speier (shoulder) fired a scoreless inning in Triple-A Tacoma's loss to Albuquerque on Friday, allowing two hits and a walk without recording a strikeout.
Speier was also credited with the hold after his 14-pitch frame, which saw him locate half of his offerings for strikes. The left-hander is now slated to move down to the Mariners' ACL team for his next rehab appearance Monday, after which he'll be evaluated for potential activation coming out of the All-Star break.
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Mariners' Gabe Speier: Rehab appearances set
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Speier (shoulder) emerged from throwing live batting practice at Petco Park on Tuesday feeling healthy and will make rehab appearances Friday and Monday, MLB.com reports.
Speier will actually kick off his rehab assignment with Triple-A Tacoma in Albuquerque on Friday before moving down to the Mariners' Arizona Complex League team for Monday's outing. If both appearances go well, Speier will likely be activated ahead of Seattle's first series coming out of the All-Star break against the Astros, which begins July 19.
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Mariners' Gabe Speier: Live BP upcoming
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Speier (shoulder) is slated to throw a live batting practice either Tuesday or Wednesday, after which a decision will be made on when he'll begin a rehab assignment, MLB.com reports.
Speier has been in a throwing progression since late June, but the imminent live batting practice session will mark his first time facing hitters since May 29. The southpaw will presumably need to make at least a couple of appearances with a minor-league affiliate due the length of his absence, making a pre-All-Star-break return increasingly unlikely.
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Mariners' Gabe Speier: Bullpen session set
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Speier (shoulder) will throw a bullpen session Tuesday, MLB.com reports.
The left-hander was able to throw off a mound Saturday without issue, and he'll continue advancing in his recovery with Tuesday's session. Speier may need to throw only a couple of bullpen sessions before he's deemed ready for a rehab assignment, although further clarity should be gleaned following Tuesday's activity.
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Mariners' Gabe Speier: Throwing off mound Saturday
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Speier (shoulder) is set to throw off a mound Saturday, Shannon Drayer of SeattleSports.com reports.
Speier will pitch off a mound for the first time since being being placed on the IL on June 1, marking a significant step in his recovery from a shoulder strain. He'll likely need to complete a few bullpen sessions before being sent on a minor-league rehab assignment.
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Mariners' Gabe Speier: In midst of throwing program
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Speier (shoulder) has started his throwing program and will soon progress to throwing bullpen sessions, MLB.com reports.
Speier has apparently moved through his catch sessions without setbacks thus far, so the next phase of his recovery could be imminent. Once Speier has thrown some bullpen sessions without issue, he'll be sent on a rehab assignment.
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Mariners' Gabe Speier: To begin playing catch soon
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Speier (shoulder) is no longer experiencing discomfort and is slated to begin playing catch soon, MLB.com reports.
Speier went on the injured list June 1after suddenly feeling persistent pain in the shoulder in the days following a May 29 appearance against the Astros. Even with the imminent resumption of a throwing program, Speier may not be a candidate for activation until July when factoring in the likely need for a rehab assignment.
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Mariners' Gabe Speier: Placed on 15-day IL
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Speier was placed on the 15-day injured list with a left rotator cuff strain Saturday, retroactive to May 30, Daniel Kramer of MLB.com reports.
Speier last appeared in a game May 29, allowing one hit while striking out a batter over two-thirds of an inning against the Astros. Considering it's his throwing shoulder, Speier may be forced to miss extended time. In a corresponding move, the Mariners called up right-hander Collin Snider from Triple-A Tacoma on Saturday.
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Mariners' Gabe Speier: Takes second loss Saturday
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Speier (0-2) was charged with the loss against the Nationals on Saturday, allowing two earned runs on two hits over one-third of an inning.
Entrusted with preserving a 1-1 tie when he entered in the seventh, Speier induced an inning-opening groundout from Luis Garcia before surrendering back-to-back singles to Jesse Winker and Keibert Ruiz, as well as a steal to the former. Trent Thornton took over at that point and subsequently allowed both inherited runners to score, leading to Speier eventually being charged with the loss. The 29-year-old Speier has now turned in three straight outings where he's allowed two earned runs while recording just one out, and he's conceded 10 runs overall across four innings in May. The veteran southpaw was a reliable bullpen fixture over the previous three seasons for the Royals and Mariners, but his current struggles may be exhausting the slack his previous body of work has earned him.
Mariners' Gabe Speier: Tosses clean inning in return
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Speier (neck) worked around a hit and a hit-by-pitch to turn in a scoreless inning of relief Tuesday in the Mariners' 5-3 loss to the Blue Jays. He struck out one of the five batters he faced.
Speier went unused in both of the Mariners' past two games after experiencing some neck discomfort following his most recent appearance in Saturday's 5-3 win over the Brewers. The Mariners never seemed to have much concern about Speier's health, and a couple days off was seemingly all he needed to move past the neck issue.
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Mariners' Gabe Speier: Managing neck issue
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Speier is dealing with neck discomfort but plans to be available to pitch Sunday against the Brewers, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports.
Speier pitched through the discomfort Saturday but issued two walks while recording just one out, so the Mariners may play it safe and give him a day or two to rest up. It doesn't appear to be a serious concern at this point, and the left-hander should be considered day-to-day.
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Mariners' Gabe Speier: Uneven through four spring turns
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Speier has allowed five earned runs on seven hits and two walks across 3.2 innings over four Cactus League appearances. He's also recorded one strikeout.
The left-hander has alternated poor and effective outings, with all five of the runs he's allowed coming in his first and third Cactus League appearances. Speier posted a pair of scoreless one-inning efforts in his other two trips to the mound as he tries to build on a solid 2023 debut campaign in Seattle. Speier pitched to a 2-2 record with a 3.79 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, one save and 17 holds across a career-high 69 appearances last season, and Daniel Kramer of MLB.com reports the 28-year-old may potentially operate in some higher-leverage spots in addition to his customary sixth- and seventh-inning "pivot" role in 2024.
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Mariners' Gabe Speier: Takes second loss Saturday
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Speier (2-2) took the extra-innings loss against the Dodgers on Saturday, allowing three runs (two earned) on a hit and a walk over one-third of an inning. He struck out one.
Speier got seven of his nine pitches into the strike zone, but he allowed a go-ahead RBI single to Max Muncy that snapped a 1-1 tie and was subsequently charged with an additional run when Chris Taylor singled Muncy in following Speier's exit. The outing marked Speier's second straight allowing a run after a brief four-appearance scoreless streak, but he's still been serviceable for fantasy managers with 17 holds and a 10.3 K/9 across his 64 appearances.
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Mariners' Gabe Speier: Grabs first career save
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Speier picked up the save Sunday against the Astros. He allowed one hit while striking out two over a scoreless inning.
The Mariners turned to Speier in the ninth after Matt Brash and Andres Munoz each pitched earlier in the contest. The 28-year-old left-hander struck out Yordan Alvarez and Yainer Diaz before working around a two-out single to close out a 7-6 win. Speier hasn't allowed a run in his last 13 appearances (11.1 innings). His ERA is down to 3.16 this season with a 0.94 WHIP and 46:6 K:BB across 42.2 innings. While Munoz still figures to see the majority of save chances in Seattle, Speier has proven to be a strong high-leverage option, particularly against left-handers.
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Mariners' Gabe Speier: Gets second win Saturday
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Speier (2-1) recorded the win over the Angels on Saturday, retiring the only batter he faced on a strikeout to close out the fifth inning.
What might seem like an easy win on the surface actually took some doing from Speier. The southpaw worked through an eight-pitch encounter with Shohei Ohtani that saw the two-way star work the count to 3-2 before fouling off a pair of sinkers and finally go down looking, leaving men stranded on second and third in the process. Speier has proven a highly effective addition to the Mariners bullpen, now posting eight consecutive scoreless appearances and generating an impressive 20:2 K:BB to go along with a 2.38 ERA, 0.84 WHIP and seven holds across 22.2 innings.
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Mariners' Gabe Speier: Recalled from Triple-A
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Speier was recalled from Triple-A Tacoma by Seattle on Saturday.
Speier replaces Robbie Ray, as Ray was placed on the 15-day injured list with a left flexor strain. Speier will give the Mariners a left-handed option in the bullpen and likely work in low-leverage situations while with Seattle.
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Mariners' Gabe Speier: Heading to Triple-A
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Speier was optioned to Triple-A Tacoma on Sunday, Shannon Drayer of Seattle Sports 710 AM reports.
The left-hander was claimed off waivers by the Mariners in November and will debut for the organization at the Triple-A level. Speier had a 2.33 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 14:5 K:BB over 19.1 innings with Kansas City last year, so he could certainly work his way into Seattle's bullpen mix at some point in 2023.
