Mariners Lose Starter to IL in Pivotal Stretch

Hancock suffered the adductor injury after making a diving tag up the first base line in his start against the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday night. The righty tested it out in the bullpen by throwing this morning, but he and the Mariners deemed it required an IL stint.

Hancock is a big loss for the Mariners’ starting rotation given he has posted a 7-8 record, 3.57 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 126 strikeouts across 138.2 innings (25 starts) this season. The 27-year-old former No. 6 overall draft pick was having his best year in the big leagues in 2026.

Seattle, who enters play on Sunday with a disappointing 64-72 record, is still trying to make the postseason down the stretch of the regular season. Doing so without Hancock makes the uphill task even more difficult.

Despite their record, the Mariners are only four games back of the first place Houston Astros in a weak AL West division. They’re also four games back of the third-and-final AL wild-card spot.

The Mariners recently moved Bryce Miller to the bullpen. Miller will presumably re-enter the Mariners’ rotation to replace Hancock. It’s unknown whether Hancock will be able to return this season.

After making it all the way to Game 7 of the ALCS last season, the Mariners have been a major disappointment this year. They can still right the ship, but they’re running out of time with 26 games left to play in the regular season.