First baseman Josh Naylor and outfielder Victor Robles have been dealing with varying ailments
SEATTLE — The Seattle Mariners are locked into the No. 2 seed in the American League, and will have a bye through the wild card round of the playoffs.
The Mariners will have home field advantage in the American League Divisional Series, which will begin at a to-be-determined time Oct. 4 at T-Mobile Park.
Even with its postseason position secured, Seattle has two more games to play against the Los Angeles Dodgers at home on Saturday and Sunday, respectively.
The Dodgers took Game 1 of the series against the Mariners by a score of 3-2 on Saturday. Los Angeles is also locked into its position as the No. 3 seed in the National League, and both clubs opted to rest several starters Friday.
Two Mariners starters who received rest Friday were outfielder Victor Robles and first baseman Josh Naylor.
Robles was a late scratch from the game and replaced with Dominic Canzone in right field.
Naylor, who started the game as a designated hitter, was pulled after the third inning due to what manager Dan Wilson described as "groin tightness." Naylor was in noticeable pain after he stole second base in the bottom of the third.
Wilson said that the team was being cautious and precautionary with Naylor.
Robles hasn't started since a game against the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday. He appeared in pain after making a slide back to first base on a pick-off attempt during the contest.
Wilson echoed the same sentiments for the team's handling of Robles as he did for Naylor.
"Just trying to do what we can to get guys a (break) when they need it and assess as we go," Wilson said in a postgame interview Friday. "That was the intent there, too (with Robles). ... Just general (soreness). Just precautionary again."
In addition to Robles and Naylor, second baseman/designated hitter Jorge Polanco also received an off-day Friday.
Naylor and Robles are both key contributors for the team and have dealt with various ailments throughout the year.
Naylor has experienced left shoulder soreness throughout the year and exited a game against the Chicago White Sox on Aug. 7. He also missed contests against the Tampa Bay Rays and Atlanta Braves towards the beginning of September. He dealt with a sore shoulder with the Arizona Diamondbacks, as well, before Seattle acquired him via trade July 24.
Since joining the Mariners, Naylor has scored 32 runs in 54 games and has hit 10 doubles and nine home runs with 33 RBIs. He's slashed .299/.341/.490 with an .831 OPS and is a perfect 19-for-19 in stolen base attempts entering Saturday with the team. Including his time with Arizona, he has 20 home runs and 30 steals on the year.
Robles missed nearly five months of action from April 7-Aug. 23 due to a left shoulder fracture/dislocation and was forced to serve a seven-game suspension due to throwing his bat at a pitcher while on a rehab assignment in Triple-A. He's scored 12 runs in 32 games and has hit four doubles, a triple and a home with nine RBIs. He's slashed .245/.281/.330 with a .611 OPS and has swiped six bags.
Robles made a critical game-ending catch against the Houston Astros on Sept. 20 that secured a series win en route to a sweep, which set up Seattle to clinch its first AL West title since 2001 during a series against the Colorado Rockies on Sept. 24.
Both players will be critical for the Mariners to make a deep playoff run this October.
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