SEATTLE — One of the hardest throwers on the Seattle Mariners pitching staff will have a delayed start to the season.

Right-handed reliever Carlos Vargas was placed on the 15-day injured list Friday due to a right lat strain. Right-handed reliever Cole Wilcox was recalled from the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers in a corresponding move.

According to a report from Adam Jude of the Seattle Times, Vargas' injury popped up while he was playing catch in pregame warmups before the Mariners' Opening Day game against the Cleveland Guardians on Thursday.

Seattle dropped its first game of the season to Cleveland 6-4 after giving up three runs in the final three innings, including one in the ninth. The Mariners opted to use Casey Legumina in the eighth inning and Cooper Criswell in the ninth. Vargas' ailment likely played a major role in manager Dan Wilson's bullpen decisions.

Vargas entered this season coming off his first full year of major league action in 2025.

The 26-year-old righty posted a 3.97 ERA and struck out 54 batters in 77 innings pitched across 70 outings in 2025. He had an average fastball velocity of 97.6 miles per hour, which ranked in the 93rd percentile of baseball according to Baseball Savant.

Seattle acquired Wilcox in a trade with the Tampa Bay Rays on Nov. 5. The Mariners sent cash to the Rays in return for the former Georgia Bulldog. He was a former top 10 prospect in Tampa's organization.

In spring, Wilcox had a 4.32 ERA and fanned 11 hitters in 8.2 innings pitched across eight appearances. He was in the running to make one of the Mariners' Opening Day bullpen spots for most of spring.

Wilcox has one major league outing under his belt, which came last season with Tampa Bay. He struck out one hitter, walked three and allowed seven runs (three earned) one four hits in one inning pitched against the Boston Red Sox on Sept. 19.

Currently, Seattle's bullpen is comprised of: right-hander Eduard Bazardo, right-hander Matt Brash, Criswell, left-hander Jose Ferrer, Legumina, right-hander Andres Munoz and left-hander Gabe Speier.

Wilcox could make his Mariners debut in Game 2 of a four-game series against the Guardians at 6:45 p.m. PT on Friday. The game will be broadcast on Apple TV.

George Kirby will start at pitcher for Seattle and Gavin Williams will get the nod for Cleveland.

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