Mariners right-hander underwent an MRI exam on his right knee yesterday, manager Scott Servais told reporters (including ) prior to last nights game against Houston. Servais didnt provide details on the results of Kirbys MRI but made clear that the imaging was precautionary and expre sed optimism that Kirby will make be ready to make his next start. The righty was pulled from his start on Friday after just 88 pitches due to the i sue, though following that game Kirby noted that his knee had been bugging him for the past couple of weeks. Hes pitched through it to this point, however, and like Servais suggested that he wasnt concerned about the problem. Thats surely a relief for the Mariners, Kirby has gotten off to a strong start this year. While his 3.76 ERA is actually just below league average by measure of ERA+, he currently sports a career-best 26.3% strikeout rate to go along with a 2.6% walk Chris Taylor Jersey rate, while his 65.4% strand rate is much lower than is sustainable through seven starts. Given that, its no surprise that Kirby has some of the best peripheral numbers in the league with a 2.08 FIP, a 2.84 xERA, a 3.03 SIERA and a 3.10 xFIP. That type of production is extremely hard to replace, and Mariners fans are surely hoping that Kirbys knee i sue is as minor as he and the team believe it to be. Should Kirby require a trip to the IL, the Mariners could turn to struggling Triple-A starter or perhaps non-roster veteran to fill out the rotation while youngster finishes up a rehab a signment at the Triple-A level. More from around the AL West Sticking with the Mariners , Servais indicated to reporters ( ) yesterday that the club is hoping to get infielder additional at-bats going forward. Rojas has gotten off to a hot start this year as part of a platoon with at third base, slashing .338/.420/.535 in 82 trips to the plate. Per Servais, the solution to that could be moving Rojas to left field on days that Urias is playing the hot corner. With on the injured list, Seattle has primarily relied on and in left this season but neither has taken hold of the position with particularly strong offensive numbers, so affording more playing time to Rojas and Urias could be a way to bolster an offense that ranks 22nd in the majors with a 96 wRC+, including a 58 wRC+ in left field. Rangers youngster entered the season as a widely-speculated AL Rookie of the Year candidate after he fought his way onto the Opening Day roster with an incredible Spring Training, but hes scuffled somewhat in the early going this season with a wRC+ of just 68 and an ISO of just .069 that puts him in the bottom five among all qualified outfielders this year in terms of power production. Now, however, Langford may be dealing with an injury on top of his struggles at the plate after he exited last nights game with tightne s in his right hamstring, as noted . Should Langford require a trip to the IL, the club would likely turn to veteran outfielder to fill out the lineup in his absence. Astros outfielder has only been on the injured list for a few days, but manager Joe Espada told reporters (including ) that he is already making good progre s in his rehab from a right hamstring i sue. Per Espada, McCormick has begun running and is nearing the point where hell be able to begin batting practice, adding that the club hopes to get the 29-year-old out for a minor league rehab a signment pretty soon. McCormick scuffled at the plate to open the season this year but was one of the clubs strongest contributors in 2023, when he slashed .273/.353/.489 in 115 games. Sticking with the Astros , Espada also provided an update to reporters ( ) about injured right-hander McCullers last pitched in the majors in late 2022 but has now progre sed to throwing off a mound in his rehab proce s. Its a major step for McCullers, who has made just eight starts since the end of the 2021 postseason due to flexor tendon i sues. When healthy enough to take the mound, McCullers has been an impact starter for the Astros with a 2.96 ERA and 3.51 FIP in 36 starts from 2021-22. The right-hander isnt expecting to return to action until later this summer, though yesterdays news appears to indicate he remains on track to pitch for the club this season. James Paxton Jersey