-- SeaWolves manager Tom Brookens now knows what caused starting pitcher Josh Rainwater to leave Thursday’s 7-2 loss to Trenton in the second inning. Brookens, however, doesn't know how long Rainwater will be sidelined.
“It looks like he has a strained oblique muscle,” Brookens said of the right-hander, who was charged with the loss against the Thunder. “Right now, he’s day to day, but we won’t make any moves yet.”
Any moves will come after a determination if Rainwater needs to be placed on the disabled list, something that Brookens believes is a distinct possibility.
“He probably will go on the DL and miss a couple of starts,” Brookens said.
-- With starter Jon Connolly back in Erie after a stint in Toledo, the SeaWolves had six starting pitchers. That was one more than the ’Wolves needed at this time.
Rainwater’s injury knocked that down to five starters, just what Brookens said he needs.
“That’s why we don’t do too much about moves until the time comes,” Brookens said. “This is not the way we wanted to do it, but we now have our five-man rotation.”
-- Closer Brett Jensen, who is on the DL with an elbow injury, had an MRI on Wednesday. The results are in, but Brookens is not talking about them yet.
“The results (of the MRI) were seen by our orthopedic doctor here, and were sent to the orthopedic guy in Detroit,” Brookens said. “He will review them and make a decision on whether Brett will need surgery or rehab.”
Whatever the case, Brookens does not expect to have Jensen available for quite some time, if at all this season. Jensen had already been on the disabled list earlier in the season with elbow problems.
“I think he will be out for quite a while,” Brookens said.
Brookens has not designated a closer to replace Jensen.
“It will be a closer by committee,” he said. “Right now, I’ll use Casey Fien, but it’s a long season to have just one closer.”
Brookens said that he feels comfortable in calling on anyone in the bullpen to be a closer, and as the season goes along he just might do that.
-- Joe Mattis