Mariners manager Lloyd McClendon said that "something's not right" with pitcher Danny Farquhar after he gave up three runs (one earned) on one hit and two walks while recording just one out in an 11-4 loss to the Padres, MLB.com reports.
"If I had to say I had one set guy for the eighth inning, it's probably more (Carson) Smith than anybody," McClendon said. "So it doesn't really change that. But it certainly limits our flexibility a little because Danny is so good at getting left-handers out as well. We need to get him back on track. He's just so vital to our success, we've got to get him right."
The manager indicated he wasn't scared of using Farquhar in tight situations while he tries to ride out his issues on the mound.
"I think the biggest thing is to get him back out there and let him pitch," McClendon said. "It's hard to straighten him out when he's not pitching. Obviously you'd like to have it in a lower-leverage situation right now, but if the matchup calls for it, I wouldn't be afraid to put him in late in games."
Farquhar believes his lack of command is the most obvious symptom of his struggles.
"I would say my cutter is not where I want it to be," he said. "The last couple years I could locate my cutter in, out, up, down. Do whatever I wanted with it. Right now it's not pinpoint. I think that's definitely a starting point. That's my bread-and-butter pitch, so I think everything works off that. Once I get that going, I think I'll be rolling."
Farquhar owns a 5.63 ERA and 13:7 K:BB ratio in 16 innings.