Mariners put RHP Bryce Miller on 15-day IL due to blister

The Seattle Mariners placed rookie right-hander Bryce Miller on the 15-day injured list due to a blister issue prior to Monday night’s game against the host San Francisco Giants.

Miller developed a blister on the middle finger of his pitching hand during Friday’s start against the Tampa Bay Rays. He struck out six in just 3⅓ innings but was forced out of the game after the blister became too painful.

The move, retroactive to Saturday, means Miller will miss his final start before the All-Star break. But it also gives him ample time to recover before making his next start.

Miller, 24, is 5-3 with a 3.97 ERA in 11 starts. He has struck out 55 in 59 innings.

Miller allowed two runs on one hit — a two-run homer by Randy Arozarena — in his start against the Rays.

Miller was a fourth-round pick in the 2021 draft out of Texas A&M.

Seattle also recalled right-handers Darren McCaughan and Matt Festa from Triple-A Tacoma on Monday.

McCaughan, 27, amassed a 6.75 ERA in two relief appearances for the Mariners earlier this season. He is 3-4 with a 6.56 ERA in 13 starts at Tacoma.

Festa, 30, has a 5.40 ERA in six relief appearances for Seattle this season. For Tacoma, he has a superb 0.62 ERA and 13 saves in 24 appearances.

According to the Seattle Times, the Mariners are considering recalling veteran left-hander Tommy Milone to start in Miller’s place on Wednesday. Milone is 3-1 with a 4.47 ERA in 11 starts at Tacoma.

The 36-year-old has a 53-52 record and a 4.59 ERA in 197 appearances (147 starts) in the majors. He has made 31 appearances (seven starts) in parts of three seasons with Seattle (2019, 2022-23).