Seattle Mariners outfielder/first baseman Luke Raley will start a rehab assignment with Triple-A Tacoma on Thursday night, Seattle Sports Mariners insider Shannon Drayer reported on social media.
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Raley has been out with a Grade 1 right oblique strain since April 28.
General manager Justin Hollander said May 27 that Raley would need at least one week on a rehab assignment and that he would play both the outfield and first base during the stint.
Raley was an opening-day starter for the Mariners this season and one of their best offensive pieces a year ago. The left-handed-hitting slugger slashed .243/.320/.463 with 19 doubles, 22 home runs, 58 RBIs and 11 stolen bases in 137 games last season.
Raley was off to bit a of slow start before hitting the injured list this year. He was slashing just .206/.345/.324 with two doubles, two home runs, eight RBIs and two stolen bases in 24 games. However, Raley was still excelling against right-handed pitching with a .255/.391/.400 slash line and all four of extra-base hits.
With Raley out, the Mariners have struggled to find production from both right field and first base. The club ranks 28th in the league with a 67 wRC+ (100 is league average) from right fielders and 22nd with an 87 wRC+ from first baseman.
Seattle is also without right fielder Victor Robles, who isn’t expected to return until at least September due to a broken bone and dislocation in his right shoulder.
The news on Raley is one of few positive developments of late for a Mariners squad that’s gone 1-8 while losing its past three series and 11-20 over its past 31 games. The club has fallen to four games back of the Astros in the AL West during the slide.
The Mariners begin a six-game homestand with a three-game series against the Cleveland Guardians at 7:10 p.m. Friday. Radio coverage begins with the pregame show on 710 AM Seattle Sports and the Seattle Sports app at 6 p.m.
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