Graveman lands on COVID injured list

SAN DIEGO -- Kendall Graveman became the latest Mariner to hit the injured list, representing the club's 13th player currently shelved.

Seattle’s best reliever was placed on the IL for COVID-related reasons ahead of Sunday’s series finale against the Padres, Mariners manager Scott Servais confirmed after the club’s 9-2 loss. Right-hander Wyatt Mills was recalled from Triple-A Tacoma in a corresponding move.

The Mariners placed four players, all relievers, on the IL on Friday due to COVID issues, including Robert Dugger, Drew Steckenrider, Anthony Misiewicz and Will Vest. The latter two have been the Mariners’ top relievers outside of Graveman, who has emerged as one of the best in the American League.

Dugger and Misiewicz were reinstated on Saturday and are vaccinated, per Servais. The others who are out due to COVID issues will remain in San Diego to quarantine as part of MLB protocols. Servais said Friday that the club had one positive test and stated “we are not out of the woods in this instance.” The COVID IL has no minimum requirement of days served.

Graveman has yet to give up a run in 16 2/3 innings across 14 outings this season. Opposing hitters are batting just .111/.172/.130 against him, with only six hits. The right-hander hasn’t pitched since registering his fifth save last Sunday against Cleveland, and the Mariners have been cautious about his workload due to the benign tumor near his neck that forced him to transition from a starter to a reliever in 2020.

Entering Sunday, Mills had made six appearances this season, including his big league debut on May 1. He pitched the eighth inning in the series finale in San Diego, hitting his first batter and then giving up an RBI triple to Ha-Seong Kim. The right-hander has now surrendered nine earned runs on 10 hits and four walks over 6 2/3 innings (12.15 ERA).