With Cruz sidelined, Powell recalled for depth

ANAHEIM -- With the status of designated hitter Nelson Cruz clouded by a sore right knee, the Mariners recalled outfielder Boog Powell from Triple-A Tacoma on Sunday morning and optioned right-handed reliever Max Povse to Triple-A Tacoma.
Cruz hurt his knee sliding into second base in the second inning of Saturday's 4-0 loss to the Angels, and he will be sidelined at least a day or two, according to manager Scott Servais.
Powell had two hits and scored a run in Sunday's 5-3 win over the Angels.
"It's hard not having him in the lineup," said Servais, who put Powell into the DH role for Sunday's series finale with the Angels. "We have a different look to our team when he's not there. But they do, too, when Mike Trout's not there. Everybody has to deal with it. Hopefully it's just a few days."
Cruz will have the knee checked out again Monday when the team returns to Seattle to open a three-game series with the Royals.
"It feels better," Cruz said prior to Sunday's game. "I don't really know what's going on or what the deal is with it, but the doctors say day-to-day and it feels better than yesterday. So tomorrow hopefully it gets better and I'll be able to play soon."

With Cruz unable to play, Powell provides some needed depth for a team that had been carrying an extra pitcher in its bullpen. In two prior stints with the Mariners this year, the 24-year-old posted a .179/.324/.179 line with six walks and two RBIs in 28 at-bats.
Powell, who was acquired from the Rays in 2016, has hit .331/.426/.471 with three homers, 20 RBIs and nine stolen bases in 41 games for Tacoma.
Povse, 23, pitched in two games out of the bullpen over the past 10 days, allowing three earned runs and seven hits in 2 2/3 innings. The 6-foot-8 right-hander was 3-2 with a 3.46 ERA in nine outings (eight starts) with Double-A Arkansas before being called up to fill a long-relief role.
The Mariners envision Povse, who is their No. 5 prospect per MLBPipeline.com, as a reliever going forward, and they want to let him work on that transition now in Tacoma.
"I saw some things I really like," Servais said. "Obviously the size, stature and downhill plane with the fastball are very good. I think his inconsistency with the breaking ball frustrated him a little bit. That's part of adrenaline going, rushing down the mound.
"But it was a good experience for him to get a cup of coffee and understand how the whole thing works here and the routine. He'll go to Triple-A and get his own routine in the bullpen and he'll be back."