Mariners' James Paxton scratched due to lingering back tightness

Colorado Rockies v Seattle Mariners

SAFECO FIELD -- Mariners left-handed pitcher James Paxton was scratched from his scheduled start Tuesday against the San Francisco Giants and will remain on the disabled list for another turn through the rotation.

Paxton felt stiffness in his back on Sunday after throwing a bullpen on Saturday ahead of his start. The bullpen seemed to go well with no issues surfacing until the day after. Paxton played catch on Sunday but the stiffness remained an issue.

"Just try to do the right thing here. He's really important, obviously, to what we're doing in the second half so we're going to give him a few more days," manager Scott Servais said.

Paxton was reevaluated by the team's trainers and everything checked out OK, but they are changing up their treatment plan in hopes of getting the lingering inflammation to subside.

"I don't think it's going to take long to get it out. We just want to make sure we get this thing right before I go back out there and kind of let it rip," Paxton said.

"If I go out there today and kind of re-hurt it or just set myself back and make it linger, I'm not going to get my best me out there pitching. So I just want to get to the point where I'm 100 percent, I can go back out there and be good for the rest of the season."

Paxton will throw another bullpen this weekend in Los Angeles in preparation for coming off the disabled list next week, presumably for Seattle's series opener against the Astros should no issues surface again.

"I'm hoping the next time his spot would come around he would be good to go at that point," Servais said.

Roenis Elias is making the start in Paxton's place Tuesday night against the Giants.


Photo Credit: SEATTLE, WA - JULY 7: Starter James Paxton #65 of the Seattle Mariners deliver a pitch during the first inning of a game against the Colorado Rockies at Safeco Field on July 7, 2018 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Stephen Brashear/Getty Images)


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