The Seattle Mariners are in the midst of a major playoff push.
Seattle is playing some of its best baseball right now, as the team is currently riding a five-game win streak.
With the summer months behind us, the Mariners managed to go above .500 in June (14-12 record), July (14-10), and August (15-13).
They’re 4-0 so far in September, and they’re getting hot at the perfect time.
Right now, three games separate Seattle and Boston for the final Wild Card spot in the AL.
That’s not an insurmountable deficit at all.
Plus, a key reinforcement could be on the way for the Mariners in the form of right-handed pitcher Justin Dunn.
The only problem?
No one seems to know when he’ll be back.
Given how well Dunn was throwing the ball earlier in the year, it’s safe to assume that Seattle wants Dunn to return as soon as possible.
Is that in the cards?
Here’s what we know about the situation.
Dunn Has Been Out For Nearly 3 Months
The Mariners have been without Dunn for almost three full months.
He went on the shelf with a shoulder issue in the middle of June, and we haven’t seen him since.
That’s a shame, because the righty was working on a career year.
Dunn, just 25, had a 3.75 ERA over 11 starts before his injury.
Impressively, he allowed three runs or fewer in 10 of those 11 outings.
Justin Dunn, 94mph Fastball (foul) and 81mph Slider (Sword/K), Overlay. pic.twitter.com/QpEvgGOYwu
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) April 15, 2021
The Boston College product has a very solid ceiling at the MLB level, and he was on a great trajectory this season before hitting the injured list.
Whenever he does return, Mariners fans are hoping he’ll pick up where he left off.
He Recently Threw A Bullpen Session, But There’s Still No Timetable For His Return
Dunn threw a bullpen session last week and reportedly felt “fine” afterward.
Justin Dunn threw a bullpen session and "feels fine."
Diego Castillo and Anthony Misiewicz should both rejoin the team this weekend #Mariners
— Tyler Wicke (@WickeTyler) September 1, 2021
Unfortunately, we haven’t been offered any sort of timetable for his return since he threw the bullpen session.
Scott Servais said Jake Fraley is back to swinging a bat. He took some pitches in the batting cage from Ichiro yesterday.
No update on Justin Dunn.#Mariners
— Tyler Wicke (@WickeTyler) September 5, 2021
With less than a month remaining in the regular season, we can deduce a couple of things:
- Dunn needs to return soon if he wants to impact Seattle’s playoff push
- If/when Dunn does return, he will likely join the bullpen
Dunn was one of the Mariners’ most reliable starters before hitting the IL, but he’ll likely join the bullpen if he returns this season.
That’s simply because there isn’t enough time left in the year for him to ramp up his workload to a degree where he could rejoin the rotation.
However, he could be an impactful relief piece if he were to join the bullpen for the rest of the season.
Seattle’s bullpen could use another reliable arm, and Dunn is certainly capable of being that guy.
It wouldn’t be an unfamiliar role for him, as he served as a reliever during a good portion of his time at BC.
Wrap-Up
With or without Dunn, the Mariners have work to do in the playoff race.
They’re going to have a chance to make some serious ground later this month when they meet the Red Sox for a head-to-head series.
Seattle would love to have Dunn back by then.
That doesn’t seem like an unrealistic possibility for a target date, but it’s tough to know for sure.
Time will tell if we see the righty again this season.
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