New reliever Lail makes Modern Era history

It’s always fun to make history and, in this case, be included with some interesting names like Mysterious Walker and Ensign Cottrell. But for Mariners reliever Brady Lail, the next order of business is to make a name for himself with his new team.

When Lail threw three scoreless innings for the Mariners in their 11-1 loss Friday in Houston, he became just the fourth player of the Modern Era (since 1900) to play his first three games in the Majors with three different teams and the first since catcher John Peters completed that feat between 1915-21 with the Tigers, Indians and Phillies.

Lail pitched one game for the Yankees last season, then one game for the White Sox this season before being claimed by the Mariners and making his debut with Seattle on Friday.

The other two to pull off that feat were Cottrell in 1911-13 with the Pirates, Cubs and Athletics and the wonderfully named Walker in 1910-13 with the Reds, Naps and Dodgers, according to STATS, Inc.

As for Lail? The 27-year-old right-hander would like to set up shop a little longer now with Seattle, if possible. And those possibilities certainly weren’t hurt by his strong first impression after three hitless innings with one walk and three strikeouts to close out Friday’s game.

“All I’m looking for in my career is a little stability,” Lail said Saturday. “Nothing against the Yankees or White Sox, they’ve given me opportunities. I just didn’t fit in their roles and it’s completely understandable on the business side of things. All I’ve wanted in my career is stability and a chance. I’m very thankful and blessed the Mariners are giving me this opportunity, and hopefully I fit their plans and role for me. I’m excited for what the future holds.”

Lail was drafted by the Yankees in 2012 and came up through the Minors as a starter before switching to a bullpen role two years ago. His ability to pitch multiple innings and get through a lineup using his four-pitch mix made him attractive to the Mariners, though he had to wait through the COVID-19 clearance protocols to get his chance.

Lail spent the past week in hotel rooms -- first in Schaumburg, Ill., after being designated for assignment from the White Sox alternate training site last Saturday and then in Houston for three days waiting to pass COVID-19 testing so he could join the Mariners.

“It’s been an interesting week, for sure. Being DFA’d, being in a hotel for six days, playing catch with the wall as much as I could,” Lail said. “It was nice to get in there the first game I was activated and get my feet wet and get used to the catchers behind the dish and the way we run things here. I feel like I fit pretty good with it and I’m excited to be here.”

Lail said Caleb Smith, a close friend who had been quarantined at length with the Marlins, gave him some advice on how to best work out in his room, and he was also able to exercise by the hotel pools since he’d never tested positive for COVID-19 and was just awaiting results.

How much strength and conditioning work can one do in a hotel room?

“Not much,” Lail said with a laugh. “You can stretch. And I did the [throwing with a] sock on my hand with the weighted ball in there. I did as much as you can think. I got yelled at by the pool guy because I was making too much noise by the pool. But I needed to keep it going somehow.”

Roster moves to bolster bullpen
Spot starter Néstor Cortes Jr. recorded just one out Friday after Yusei Kikuchi was scratched due to neck spasms, so the Mariners made several roster moves prior to Saturday’s game to restock their bullpen.

Cortes was placed on the 10-day injured list with a left elbow impingement on Saturday and veteran right-hander Bryan Shaw was designated for assignment. Lefty Taylor Guilbeau and right-hander Ljay Newsome were added to the roster from the alternate training site, with both being available on the traveling taxi squad accompanying the team on its current road trip.

Shaw had to be DFA’d to open a spot on the 40-man roster for Newsome, who will be making his MLB debut with his first appearance. The Mariners now have seven days to trade, release or outright Shaw to the alternate training site. The 32-year-old has allowed 12 earned runs in six innings over six outings since signing with Seattle on July 23.

Mariners manager Scott Servais said that Kikuchi’s neck was still stiff on Saturday, but he was taking muscle relaxers to try to help and was going to play catch to see how it felt. There’s some hope the lefty can slide back into the Mariners rotation before his next scheduled turn on Thursday at home against the Dodgers if the issue quickly subsides.

“Fingers crossed,” Servais said. “I was hoping there’d be a little more improvement today, but we’ll take it a day at a time right now.”