Neal was hit hard in Sunday's loss to the Mariners, allowing five runs on eight hits and a walk across 5.1 innings. He struck out one.
Seattle got to Neal early and often, plating runs in the second, third and fourth innings before chasing him from the game amid a four-run rally in the sixth. Neal had come out of the bullpen until this month and had been scored upon just twice in his previous 17.1 innings heading into Sunday, but he appeared over-matched against a talented offense and failed to throw strikes with regularity. He will have the opportunity to right the ship Saturday against the White Sox.