Mariners star Julio Rodriguez (wrist) could face IL stint

Seattle Mariners star center fielder Julio Rodriguez missed his third straight game on Sunday due to his injured left wrist.

Rodriguez underwent an MRI exam on Saturday that displayed bruising but no structural damage.

The club is hopeful that the 21-year-old will be available for Monday's game against the visiting Texas Rangers. But the Mariners also are considering putting Rodriguez on the 10-day injury list.

"Right now, it's just day to day," Mariners manager Scott Servais told reporters before Sunday's home game against the Houston Astros. "We'll make the decision if it's an IL (stint) down the road. I don't think it will be. I'm hopeful that it won't be. But you never know."

Rodriguez, the overwhelming favorite to win American League Rookie of the Year honors, sustained the injury while attempting to steal second against the Rangers on July 17.

He participated in the Home Run Derby the following day in Los Angeles and hit 81 homers in three rounds while being the runner-up to winner Juan Soto of the Washington Nationals.

Rodriguez played in Tuesday's All-Star Game and went 0-for-2.

Rodriguez fractured the same wrist in July 2020 but says the current soreness is in a different spot and not related to the previous injury.

"I feel like after the Derby, probably after all that, that's when it started getting maybe getting a little bit worse," Rodriguez told reporters. "But right now, we're day to day, and it's feeling better already."

Rodriguez has energized Seattle with his highlight-reel play. He leads the club with 52 RBIs and 21 stolen bases and is batting .275 with 16 homers.

The Mariners won 14 straight games -- one shy of the franchise mark from 2001 -- prior to the All-Star break. Without Rodriguez, they lost all three games of their series with the Astros this weekend, falling 8-5 in the finale on Sunday.