Ryan Bliss Just Got The Call, And It Means J.P. Crawford's Hand Is More Than 'Sore.'

Alright, Mariners fans, take a deep breath. News from Comerica Park this Sunday has us all on edge. Our skipper, J.P. Crawford, is still dealing with that right hand injury, and the M's aren't messing around. Ryan Bliss, straight from Sacramento, California, just rolled into the clubhouse to join the taxi squad. Manager Dan Wilson calls it "precautionary for now," but bringing in Bliss is a loud, clear signal that lingering concern about J.P. hitting the injured list is very real.

J.P.'s Hand: The Real Scoop

We all saw it Friday: third inning, a fastball from Detroit's Framber Valdez drills J.P.'s right hand. X-rays thankfully showed no fracture, but "no fracture" doesn't mean "no pain." His hand was sore and swollen, with most of Saturday spent on treatment. The goal for Sunday was simple: get a bat in hand, see how it felt, maybe some light swings, and some light throwing. But when he hit the field for pregame work, that "light throwing" lasted a grand total of five minutes! He played catch with first base coach Eric Young Jr. at a measly 60 feet, just a handful of throws, and it was done. Wilson put on a brave face, hoping it'd be "just one more day" without our shortstop. But with Bliss in the building, you know the M's are seriously considering that IL move if J.P. needs another day or two. This isn't the early season news we wanted, but we gotta be ready.

Naylor vs. Detroit: A Battle For The Ages

While we're sweating over J.P., Josh Naylor has been busy turning Comerica Park into his personal villain arc. Tigers fans were already heated from his Cleveland days, but this weekend? Oh man, it was amplified. Friday, small boos. By Sunday, it was a full-on contempt concert every time his name was announced. Why all the hate? Saturday, his sliding mitt flew off and hit catcher Dillon Dingler while Naylor scored. Naylor called it "incidental," and "felt bad," but the Tigers weren't buying it. His next at-bat, Tigers starter Keider Montero plunked him on the shoulder/upper back. Naylor responded with a hard slide into second trying to break up a double play. Then on Sunday, he slid right over the bag and into Detroit's Zach McKinstry during a stolen base attempt in the ninth. No punches thrown, but the tension was palpable. This guy lives for this stuff.

The Colt Connection: Zanesville's Finest

In a lighter moment, did you know we have one of only two "Colts" in the majors? Our rookie Colt Emerson chatted with the other one, Detroit's Colt Keith, before Saturday's game. Here's the kicker: both were born in Zanesville, Ohio! Two Colts, one small town, both in the big leagues. Wild, right? They'd never met before, with Keith four years older and having moved around after his Zanesville childhood. Still, what a cool, random connection in the regular season grind. The M's dropped Sunday's game 5-4, a tough walk-off loss where Andres Muñoz blew the save, ending our series win streak. Not ideal, especially with J.P.'s status up in the air. What's next? We need J.P. back in that lineup, healthy and swinging. And every time Naylor steps to the plate against the Tigers, you know we're glued to the screen. Keep that energy high, Seattle! We're in this together.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.