Garver's In, But Crawford's Shoulder and Miller's Arm Have Seattle Sweating Before Opening Day
The Mariners answered one locker room question Sunday but left two massive ones dangling as Spring Training winds down in Arizona. Mitch Garver is locked in as the backup catcher, beating out Andrew Knizner for the job. But J.P. Crawford's shoulder and Bryce Miller's oblique are the real stories that could shake up the Opening Day roster before the team flies home Monday night.
Crawford's Shoulder: The X-Factor
Here's the thing about Crawford: he's been dealing with a sore throwing shoulder basically all of camp, and the Mariners still don't have full clarity on whether he'll be ready for Opening Day. The shortstop got a cortisone shot from renowned orthopedist Dr. Keith Meister in Texas earlier this week and has been hitting in the cages since Thursday, but throwing? That's still the question mark.
Crawford's only suited up in seven Cactus League games, just three of them at shortstop. Manager Dan Wilson isn't panicking about the limited reps though, mostly because Crawford's an eight-year vet in Seattle who knows what his body needs. "Getting back on his feet and getting at-bats is definitely important," Wilson said. "But certainly, throwing is maybe the bigger question mark."
If Crawford needs more work after Monday's final spring game, the Mariners could have him stay in Arizona through Tuesday or Wednesday for Minor League games while they make the call. It's a luxury since Opening Day rosters don't need to be submitted until Thursday morning. And if he does go on the injured list, it can be backdated, with the earliest return date being April 1.
Miller's Rotation Spot and the Comeback Plan
Bryce Miller is heading to the injured list with left oblique inflammation, and the Mariners need a fifth starter. Emerson Hancock is the frontrunner. He's done the job well the last two seasons and had a solid camp with increased velocity and a much-improved sweeper.
Cooper Criswell is expected to make the team in the bullpen since he's out of Minor League options and the club doesn't want to lose him on waivers. As for Miller, there haven't been any setbacks since his full-effort bullpen session on March 11, but he'll need to be stretched out to five or six innings and 80 to 90 pitches before he's ready. Wilson is in no rush: "You don't want to bring him back too early, where you're going to tax the bullpen."
Best case? Miller's probably three or four weeks away if everything goes smoothly. The Mariners have four off-days in April that could give the bullpen breathing room when he returns.
Opening Day is almost here. Let's see what Crawford and Miller have left to prove.
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This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.