Mariners' Matt Brash: Aiming for late-April return
Rotowire
The Mariners are optimistic that Brash (elbow) can make his 2025 debut by the end of April, Adam Jude of the Seattle Times reports.
Brash had an internal brace procedure on his right elbow in early May, so a return in April would be aggressive. However, he's been working out at the team's spring training complex in Arizona and is considered ahead of schedule in his recovery. Brash was dynamite out of Seattle's bullpen in 2023, posting a 3.06 ERA and 107:29 K:BB across 70.2 innings. Once healthy, he will serve in a leverage relief role for the Mariners.
... See More... See Less
Mariners' Matt Brash: Visiting with team in September
Rotowire
Brash, who continues to rehabilitate from a May 8 internal bracing procedure on his throwing elbow, will visit with the Mariners during the second week of September, MLB.com reports.
As was the case when he dropped by in early August, Brash's visit will allow him to reconnect with the big-league medical and training staff, as well as meet personally with new manager Dan Wilson. Brash was already engaging in plyometric exercises on a trampoline when he was last in Seattle several weeks ago, and there have been no reports of any setbacks as he aims for a pre-All-Star-break return in 2025.
... See More... See Less
Mariners' Matt Brash: Undergoes Tommy John surgery
Rotowire
Brash underwent Tommy John surgery Wednesday, Shannon Drayer of Seattle Sports 710 AM reports.
Brash injured his right elbow during spring training and was pulled off his throwing program after suffering a setback in late April. He will now miss the remainder of the year as a result of his procedure, and the Mariners are hoping he can return by early June next season.
... See More... See Less
Mariners' Matt Brash: Shut down after setback with elbow
Rotowire
Brash has been shut down after having a setback with his right elbow while playing catch Friday, Shannon Drayer of Seattle Sports 710 AM reports.
Brash is headed to Dallas to receive an opinion from Dr. Keith Meister on his injured elbow. It sounds like the setback is a significant one, with Mariners general manager Justin Hollander saying the team is "concerned." Brash had been closing in on a rehab assignment, but his status is very much up in the air.
... See More... See Less
Mariners' Matt Brash: Rehab assignment imminent
Rotowire
Brash (elbow) will pitch once more at the Mariners' complex in Peoria in coming days before a rehab assignment start date is determined, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports.
The right-hander's extensive build-up following spring elbow trouble appears to be drawing to a close, and Brash seems to have navigated the process without setbacks thus far. Assuming all goes well with his final throwing session, Brash could be toeing the rubber for one of the Mariners' minor-league affiliates shortly thereafter in what would be his first game action of any kind in 2024.
... See More... See Less
Mariners' Matt Brash: Another live BP coming
Rotowire
Brash (elbow) is set to throw another live batting practice over the weekend and will then head out on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Tacoma, SeattleSports.com reports.
Brash threw a live batting practice early this week, and Mariners general manager Justin Hollander noted Friday that the hard-throwing right-hander emerged from that session feeling good. If Brash's second live BP goes equally well, Hollander estimates it will be just a matter of days before Brash heads down to Tacoma for a rehab assignment of a yet-to-be-determined duration.
... See More... See Less
Mariners' Matt Brash: Encouraging live BP session
Rotowire
Brash (elbow) recently threw a live batting practice session in Arizona that went "very well," per manager Scott Servais, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports.
The valued right-hander remains without a timetable for return, but Servais appeared to be encouraged by the progress Brash has been making in recent throwing sessions. Brash went on the injured list March 29, and considering he never made it into Cactus League action, he'll project for a fairly lengthy rehab assignment whenever he reaches that benchmark.
... See More... See Less
Mariners' Matt Brash: Heads to IL
Rotowire
The Mariners placed Brash (elbow) on the 15-day injured list Thursday.
Brash sustained an elbow injury early in camp and didn't end up pitching in the Cactus League, though he was fortunate to avoid surgery after he was diagnosed with inflammation following a visit with Dr. Keith Meister, per MLB.com. The right-hander has since resumed throwing bullpen sessions and is likely to throw off the mound again this weekend before potentially gaining clearance to face hitters. Brash seems to be tracking toward a return from the IL in mid-to-late April.
... See More... See Less
Mariners' Matt Brash: Resumes mound work
Rotowire
Brash (elbow) threw a bullpen session Wednesday, Daniel Kramer of MLB.com reports.
Brash only threw at roughly 70 percent effort, but Wednesday's session marked his first time throwing off the mound since being taken off his throwing program in late February. Brash will throw another bullpen session within the next few days, and it's possible he progresses to facing hitters after that. The 25-year-old righty will likely begin the year on the 15-day IL.
... See More... See Less
Mariners' Matt Brash: Recovery remains setback-free
Rotowire
Brash (elbow) has "picked up his throwing quite a bit" according to manager Scott Servais and could be ready for game action shortly after Opening Day, MLB.com reports.
Brash has now upped his throwing distance to 110 feet after hitting the 90-foot threshold early in the week. The next step for Brash is to progress to begin throwing off a mound, and once he's successfully completed that phase of his rehabilitation, he's likely to log game action at the minor-league level before being deemed ready to face big-league hitters.
... See More... See Less
Mariners' Matt Brash: Extends throwing distance
Rotowire
Brash (elbow) will play catch out to 90 feet Sunday, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports.
Brash will take an incremental step forward in his recovery from right elbow inflammation, as he had been playing catch out to 60 feet a few days earlier. The right-hander still looks like he might be a week or more away from throwing off a mound, and since he'll need additional time beyond that to face hitters in live batting practice and eventually Cactus League or minor-league rehab games, Brash appears set to begin the season on the 15-day injured list.
... See More... See Less
Mariners' Matt Brash: Set for throwing session
Rotowire
Brash (elbow) is expected to play catch Tuesday with a trainer, Shannon Drayer of 710 ESPN Seattle reports.
The right-hander is still expected to be weeks away from a return, but Tuesday represents an important step in his recovery. If Brash is able to come out of the session without any setbacks, he'll likely begin a deliberate process of building up his workload while managing the medial right elbow inflammation he's been experiencing.
... See More... See Less
Mariners' Matt Brash: Could have serious arm injury
Rotowire
Brash (elbow) could be sidelined for a significant period of time, perhaps for the entire season, Ryan Divish of the Seattle Times reports.
Brash and the Mariners haven't revealed where exactly the reliever is hurting, but Divish notes that the righty was looking down at his elbow while discussing the injury. Divish also hears from sources that the injury could potentially be long term and, at the very least, is likely to result in an injured list stint to begin the season. Brash struck out 107 batters over 70.2 innings last season and his potential loss would be a devastating blow to Seattle's bullpen.
... See More... See Less
Mariners' Matt Brash: Dominant for 25th hold
Rotowire
Brash secured his 25th hold in a win over the Astros on Tuesday, firing two scoreless innings during which he allowed a hit and recorded two strikeouts.
Brash threw 19 of 25 pitches for strikes while extending his scoreless appearance streak to 13 outings. The right-hander continues to primarily see seventh- and eighth-inning work, although he's arguably been more trustworthy overall in the last month-plus than primary closer Andres Munoz. If the Mariners do make it into the postseason, how manager Scott Servais distributes high-leverage assignments will be something to monitor.
... See More... See Less
Mariners' Matt Brash: Settles into setup role
Rotowire
Brash recorded his 23rd hold in a win over the Angels on Wednesday, firing a scoreless eighth inning during which he allowed a hit and a walk while recording three strikeouts.
Brash worked the eighth inning while posting his eighth consecutive scoreless appearance, a stretch that dates back to Aug. 29. The right-hander has generated a 13.5 K/9 and snagged six holds over that eight-inning sample, as manager Scott Servais has opted to stick with Andres Munoz as the primary ninth-inning option despite some stumbles while often deploying Brash in a seventh- or eighth-inning role.
... See More... See Less
Mariners' Matt Brash: Nabs second save
Rotowire
Brash allowed a hit and a walk while striking out two over a scoreless inning to earn the save in Friday's 9-7 win over the Angels.
He allowed the first two batters he faced to reach base before settling down. Andres Munoz had converted the Mariners' first two save chances since they traded away Paul Sewald, but he'd pitched three of the last four days, allowing Brash to step up in a high-leverage spot. The 25-year-old righty has two saves and 15 holds this season while pitching to a 3.28 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and 80:20 K:BB over 46.2 innings. Brash has the stuff to be an effective late-inning reliever, though he's still got some strides to make with his control.
... See More... See Less
Mariners' Matt Brash: Grabs seventh win Wednesday
Rotowire
Brash (7-3) got the win over the Red Sox on Wednesday, firing a perfect seventh inning during which he recorded two strikeouts.
Brash mowed through the Red Sox during a seventh frame in which he needed just 10 pitches to record his three outs. The right-hander was then rewarded for his sharp performance when Seattle mounted a four-run rally in the seventh inning and held on the rest of the way, making him the pitcher of record. Brash is expected to see a boost in eighth-inning work, especially in games when the Mariners have the lead, as part of the reshuffling of the high-leverage end of the bullpen in the wake of Paul Sewald's trade to the Diamondbacks. However, the fact manager Scott Servais called on him to prevent a 3-2 deficit from growing any larger underscores the trust Brash has built with a breakout 2023 that's seen him pitch to a 3.35 ERA and 15.4 K/9 while also garnering 15 holds and one save, in addition to the seven victories.
... See More... See Less
Mariners' Matt Brash: Highly productive in July
Rotowire
Brash, who picked up his fifth win Tuesday against the Twins with a scoreless eighth inning during which he issued a walk and struck out three, has a 2.35 ERA, 0.78 WHIP, 14:4 K:BB and six holds across the 7.2 innings covering his eight appearances in July.
The one-time starter has been in a groove as a reliever for most of the season, and July has been a particularly good month. Brash has generated scoreless efforts in seven of those eight appearances this month, and he's gotten a better handle on his control issues overall by lowering his BB/9 from his rookie 5.9 figure to a more palatable 3.9 in 41.1 frames this season.
... See More... See Less
Mariners' Matt Brash: Saddled with third loss
Rotowire
Brash (3-3) took the loss against the Astros on Friday, allowing two earned runs on two hits and a walk over two-thirds of an inning. He struck out two.
Brash was tasked with preserving a 4-4 tie when he entered in the ninth inning, but his leadoff walk to Jose Abreu was followed by Kyle Tucker's go-ahead two-run home run to center field. The hard-throwing right-hander recorded a pair of subsequent strikeouts before a Jake Meyers single got him the hook, and he was saddled with his third loss of the season when Seattle couldn't rally. The stumble snapped a four-appearance scoreless streak for Brash while pushing his ERA and WHIP back up to 5.28 and 1.50, respectively.
... See More... See Less
Mariners' Matt Brash: Grabs second win
Rotowire
Brash (2-2) got the win against the Cardinals on Saturday, firing a scoreless seventh inning during which he hit a batter and struck out the side.
Brash's occasional control issues surfaced when he plunked Alec Burleson during what would have otherwise been a perfect inning. Beyond that blip, the right-hander was stellar while picking up his second win, notably erasing the trio of Lars Nootbaar, Paul Goldschmidt and Nolan Arenado on swinging strikeouts. The clean frame marked Brash's fourth scoreless effort in his last five trips to the mound and came in the wake of an ugly one-inning appearance against the Brewers on Wednesday when he allowed three earned runs.
