TORONTO — Veteran right-hander Chris Young has hit a competitive wall, Seattle Mariners manager Lloyd McClendon believes, and won’t start as scheduled Thursday in the series finale at the Rogers Centre.
“I think he’s probably out of gas from a starting standpoint,” McClendon said. “I think the innings have piled up, and that’s to be expected. For guys not coming off surgery, the innings have piled up.
“He’s coming off surgery. He’s only human. He’s given us everything that he had and probably a little bit more. He’s tired.”
McClendon did not identify a replacement, although long reliever Tom Wilhelmsen looms as a leading possibility because the Mariners are carrying an 11-man bullpen.
Another option is Erasmo Ramirez, who has been the bullpen’s mop-up reliever since returning Sept. 1 from Triple-A Tacoma after making 14 starts earlier in the season.
The move comes after Young, 35, went 0-3 while allowing 17 earned runs and 27 hits over 181/3 innings in his last five starts. In contrast, he was 12-6 with a 3.07 ERA in his first 25 outings.
“It’s what is right for the club,” he said. “There’s no doubt it’s been a long, great season, but I feel good. I’ll still be prepared to pitch. I’ll give the club the best I can whenever they need it.”
Young is 12-9 with a 3.65 ERA in 165 innings over 30 games, including 29 starts. He pitched just 37 innings last season in the minors after surgery and hasn’t worked more than 115 since 2007.
“The fatigue is somewhat natural,” he conceded, “especially considering from where I’ve come. Basically, I’ve been throwing since last July with no time off.
“I went from a rehab mode straight into competition mode in spring training to making (29) regular-season starts.”
Young gave up seven runs and eight hits, including four homers, in three-plus innings Saturday in a 10-1 loss to the Astros.
“I think there’s an element of fatigue to it,” he agreed, “but I also think if I had that start in June, we don’t talk about it as much. It gets magnified because of the situation we’re in.
“If we were 15 games out, the way the club’s been the last few years, it’s probably a non-issue. The timing of it was poor, and that’s on me.
“Nobody is more disappointed than I am about it, but Lloyd has to do what’s right for the club. If he feels that’s what is best, I’ll support him. I’ll be ready to help out however I can.”
Young resurrected his career after undergoing thoracic outlet decompression surgery June 11, 2013 on his right shoulder. He signed March 27 with the Mariners after failing to win a spot in Washington’s rotation.
“I’m not sure we would be in the position we’re in now if it weren’t for him,” McClendon said. “He did a tremendous job for us. He’ll pitch out of the pen. He was as gracious as he could be. A complete pro.”
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