Mariners pitcher James Paxton left Thursday's start against the Indians due to discomfort in his left middle finger, the team announced.
"Obviously I'm not happy about it, but I'm staying positive and I don't think it's going to be anything too big, hopefully," Paxton said after the game, per MLB.com. "We'll find out tomorrow. Right now it has pretty good movement and it already feels better than it did an hour ago. Hopefully by tomorrow it'll feel much better."
Paxton gave up four runs (three earned) on eight hits and one walk in 4 2/3 innings while striking out four before being removed after striking out a batter in the fifth with none on and two outs. He came into the game on a three-start winning streak having allowed two runs or less in six straight starts, but he ran into trouble on Thursday, serving up a solo homer in the second inning before the Indians pushed three runs across in the fourth.
Paxton owns a 3.70 ERA and 45:22 K:BB ratio in 58 1/3 innings. He's slated to face the Yankees on Tuesday if he can make his scheduled start.