By admin 
The Seattle Mariners received another setback Tuesday after falling 4-1 to the New York Yankees, as left-handed reliever Gabe Speier was unavailable because of back discomfort despite returning to the active roster earlier in the day.
Read more J.J. Watt Finally Breaks Silence On Replacing Tony Romo At CBS
Seattle’s bullpen took another hit after Speier, who had just returned from a suspension, was ruled unavailable during the series opener at Yankee Stadium. The Mariners have now dropped five straight games, adding more pressure as they continue to slide down the American League standings.
Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reported Tuesday that Speier was unavailable because of back discomfort. The left-hander had returned to the roster after dropping his appeal of a Major League Baseball suspension for intentionally hitting a batter, but the back issue prevented him from pitching.
The absence comes at a difficult time for Seattle, which has leaned heavily on its bullpen throughout the season.
Gabe Speier was unavailable due to back discomfort.
— Ryan Divish (@RyanDivish) August 12, 2026
Speier has been one of the Mariners’ most dependable relievers in 2026. Across 36 appearances, he owns a 2-2 record with a 2.10 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 27 strikeouts over 30 innings while serving as one of Seattle’s primary late-inning options.
Read more Steelers 53-Man Roster Projection: Three QBs, New Rookies
His availability now becomes a concern after the club lost another game to the Yankees. Seattle fell to 56-64 with Tuesday’s defeat, leaving the club third in the American League West, 4.5 games behind the first-place Houston Astros and outside the American League Wild Card picture.
If Speier’s back issue requires an injured list stint, the Mariners could look to Triple-A Tacoma for another left-handed bullpen option as they try to stabilize their relief corps during a difficult stretch.
Meanwhile, the Yankees improved to 67-52 with the victory. They remain second in the American League East, six games behind the Tampa Bay Rays while holding the league’s top Wild Card position.
Read more Raiders Face Intriguing First Test in Preseason Opener
ALSO SEE:
- MLB Home Run Predictions Today: Best HR Prop Bets for Tuesday, Aug. 11
- NRFI and YRFI MLB Bets Today: Best First-Inning Predictions for Tuesday, Aug. 11
Copyright 2026 Athlon Sports. All rights reserved.
This story was originally published August 12, 2026 at 6:02 AM.