KANSAS CITY -- The on-again, off-again season of James Paxton hit another snag on Thursday as the Mariners southpaw was removed from his start against the Royals after just 1 1/3 innings due to a torn fingernail.
Paxton spent nearly four months on the disabled list with a strained tendon in the middle finger of his pitching hand, then ran into issues with the nail on the same finger during his rehab process. He was making his third start since coming off the DL.
The 26-year-old gave up five hits and two runs in his abbreviated outing, including three hits in the second before Mariners trainer Rick Griffin and manager Lloyd McClendon went to the mound and removed him after taking a quick look at his finger.