Josh Naylor exits game with injury

SEATTLE — Itâ€s that time of year where the Mariners have locked up a first-round postseason bye and could be in the process of getting key players off their feet over the final weekend. And that was indeed the case during a 3-2 loss to the Dodgers, with Josh Naylor being lifted with groin tightness after coming off the field at the end of the third inning.

“We were just wanting to, again, be conservative with him and precautionary,†Mariners manager Dan Wilson said. “So we were able to get him out.â€

Naylor, who was Seattleâ€s designated hitter for the series opener against the National League West champions, was seen descending into the home clubhouse and grimacing when coming off the field in the bottom of the third inning with Mariners head athletic trainer Kyle Torgerson.

Just prior, Naylor appeared to exhibit some discomfort upon stealing second base in that frame, his 30th of the season. Then in the next at-bat, he was thrown out sliding into third base when attempting to tag up on a flyout from Eugenio Suárez, and a step before Cal Raleigh crossed the plate when also tagging, which prevented the game-tying run from scoring.

The Mariners wound up scoring again in the eighth to make it a one-run game, via an RBI single from Dominic Canzone, then had the bases loaded in the ninth. But they ultimately came up short for just their second loss in three weeks and first at T-Mobile Park in exactly one month.

With it — and coupled with wins from the Yankees and Blue Jays — the Mariners are locked into the ALâ€s No. 2 seed, which will pit them against the Wild Card Series winner featuring the AL Central champion (currently Cleveland) and No. 6 seed (currently Detroit). Game 1 of the ALDS will be Oct. 4 at T-Mobile Park.

Naylor had dealt with left shoulder soreness that forced him to exit an Aug. 7 game vs. the White Sox, then he was lifted from a Sept. 3 game at Tampa Bay and missed Seattleâ€s subsequent game on Sept. 5 at Atlanta.

He’s been one of the Mariners†most productive hitters since being acquired ahead of the Trade Deadline, with a slash line of .297/.340/.490 (.830 OPS) in 54 games since joining the team on July 25.

A luxury for the Mariners is that once they wrap up the regular season on Sunday, they will have five off-days until they open the American League Division Series.

They are tentatively planning two scrimmages next week, along with a small workout, but will just as much look to get guys — Naylor among them — some much-needed rest. And itâ€s possible they roll out a lineup reflective as such in their final two games, now that they have nothing left to play for.

“We’re trying to figure out exactly how to balance that,†Wilson said. “And a couple guys tonight, we were able to get some rest.â€

Beyond Naylor, right fielder Victor Robles was scratched two hours before first pitch with a minor shoulder issue and replaced by Canzone. And starting pitcher Bryan Woo continues to recover from pectoral inflammation that forced him to exit last Fridayâ€s start at Houston, though Woo played catch for the first time on Thursday and appears to be trending toward a return for the ALDS.

Wooâ€s status will impact the rest of Seattleâ€s pitching plans for that best-of-five round. If he operates on the five-day routine that he hinted at, he would line up to start Game 2 at home. But who the club pencils in around him will be among its more prominent decisions in the coming days.

Itâ€s also possible that they push Woo to Game 3 on the road (and he had a 3.40 road ERA), as that would give him even more rest. But it could also be risky if theyâ€re facing elimination, given that his next start will be his first since the injury.

George Kirby made another compelling case to start one of the first three playoff games with a 10-strikeout gem on Friday.

Kirby finished the regular season with a 2.96 ERA at T-Mobile Park, compared to a 5.19 ERA on the road. Opening Day starter Logan Gilbert, who almost certainly will start one of the first three ALDS games, has had the more consistent season, but heâ€s been slightly better than Kirby on the road (4.74 ERA).

“I’m ready to keep going,†Kirby said. “I honestly wish we didn’t have a week off. I’m ready to pitch again right away.â€

Then thereâ€s Luis Castillo, who, like Kirby, is finishing on a huge high note and is also much better at home, with a 1.07 ERA over his past four starts overall after compiling a 10.06 ERA over his previous four.

Much of the calculus will center on Woo, but they also have pressing decisions on who else to roll out — and more so where, rather than when.

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