Mariners notebook: Andrés Muñoz confident he can pitch through back strain

OAKLAND, Calif. — Andrés Muñoz has been pitching through a lower back strain since the second game of the season in late March, and he’s confident he’ll be able to continue to do so.

“I’ve been here before; I’ve felt like this before, so I know we can manage that and be ready to go,” the Mariners closer said Wednesday.

Muñoz had a scare late in Tuesday’s game following a play at the plate in which he barreled over a runner with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning.

He had an MRI on his back Wednesday. Results of the scans were not immediately available, but he said he was feeling “a lot better” by Wednesday afternoon.

Manager Scott Servais said Muñoz would not be available for Wednesday night’s game.

Muñoz said the back strain flares up some days. He’s been getting regular treatment from team trainers — “I’ve tried everything,” he said — and he’s been wearing a brace around his back/torso when he pitches.

“Some days I feel like it’s been getting worse and [then] getting better; worse, better,” Muñoz said. “But like I said, we’ve been dealing with that, and the [trainers] are working — it is getting better all the time. Sometimes, it’s just one of those days.”

He expects to be ready to pitch again in the next couple days.

“I am 100% [with] this team,” he said. “Sometimes we don’t feel good and we have to go there and do our job. So [that’s] what I am going to do. [Tuesday], it wasn’t a good day for me. But I am ready to come the next day.”

In the final months of the 2022 season, Muñoz, 25, pitched through an injury to his right foot. That required bone-fusion surgery that offseason.

Santos throws first bullpen

Reaction was encouraging from Gregory Santos’ first throwing progression off a bullpen mound Tuesday afternoon at Oakland Coliseum.

Santos threw 15 pitches at roughly 80-90% effort and touched 94 mph.

“It’s been a process with the big guy,” Servais said. “I’m really excited to see what that could look like. But it’s going to be a little while yet.”

There is no formal timetable for Santos’ return, but there’s some optimism he could join the Mariners in early July.

Acquired from the White Sox over the winter, Santos has not yet pitched for the Mariners after being diagnosed with a right lat strain during spring training.

Strong reviews for Garver

Mitch Garver will continue to get more playing time at catcher after getting strong reviews for his work behind the plate Tuesday night.

Garver, 33, has caught George Kirby’s last two starts, and both Kirby and Servais were pleased.

“He did a great job again,” Servais said. “The pitch-calling, the sequencing with George is outstanding.”

Kirby allowed two runs with one walk and nine strikeouts in the Mariners’ 4-3 victory Tuesday.

“One thing that I really enjoy is we’ve been talking a lot [between] innings when we’re on the bench,” Kirby said. “I like that a lot, to get on the same page. it’s not like Cal [Raleigh] or Seby [Zavala] don’t do that, but Garv’s been good at that these last two starts, kind of putting me in my place if I need to be.”

NOTE:

Second baseman Jorge Polanco is making progress in his recovery from what the team has described as a mild right hamstring strain, but he’s not expected to be activated from the injured list when eligible Thursday.

Polanco has been working out with the team on this road trip, going through regular infield drills and taking batting practice.

Servais has not ruled out the possibility that Polanco could be sent on a rehab assignment before he rejoins the active roster.