KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Julio Rodriguez was out of the Mariners lineup again Friday because of discomfort in his lower back, and he could be headed to the injured list.
The rookie star traveled with the team from Oakland to Kansas City and had an MRI on his back Friday.
Manager Scott Servais, speaking before Friday’s game against the Royals, said a final decision had not been made about whether Rodriguez would need to be placed on the 10-day injured list.
“We don’t know. I’m not gonna get out ahead of it. It certainly could be (necessary),” Servais said. “You won’t see him in the game tonight, for sure. But (you’ll) just have to wait and see (on the IL determination).”
If Rodriguez is placed on the IL, he could eligible to return before the Mariners’ final regular-season series against Detroit on Oct. 3.
Rodriguez missed three games earlier in this road trip against the Angels when his back discomfort first flared up last weekend.
He returned to the lineup in Oakland on Tuesday and Wednesday. On Thursday, he led off the game with a double and then scored on a Mitch Haniger single.
But after taking his position in center field to start the bottom of the first, Rodriguez had to exit the game when the back flared up again.
“He’s still a little bit sore today,” Servais said Friday.
The Mariners (82-67) entered Friday holding down the final playoff spot in the American League wild card chase, four games ahead of Baltimore (82-67) with 13 games remaining. They open their last road series Friday night in Kansas City.
Jarred Kelenic is in the lineup as the starting center fielder Friday against the Royals. Kelenic, in his first game since being recalled from Class AAA Tacoma, took over in center field for Rodriguez on Thursday and had a home run and a key RBI double.
Kelenic will be the regular center fielder for however long Rodriguez is out.
“Jarred got off to a great start yesterday. He had a really good game,” Servais said. “That’s what I was hoping for — get some confidence going and see if he can take it and run with it. He’s going to play. … I was anticipating his reps would come in the corner (outfield spots), but with Julio out now he’ll be playing in center field. And we’re going to let him run with it.”