ARLINGTON, Texas — Mike Zunino will play his first game of the 2018 season on Friday night. The Mariners catcher was activated from the 10-day disabled list earlier in the day and was expected to be in the lineup as the Mariners opened a three-game series vs. the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Park.
Zunino strained his left oblique during a workout the day before the season opener at Safeco Field. The Mariners initially felt like he would miss just 10 days because it was only a Grade 1 oblique strain. But they decided to be cautious with Zunino’s return, not wanting him to re-strain the oblique or suffer any sort of setback.