Brad Wilkerson was pulled from Tuesday’s ballgame with a “tight right hamstring.”  Although it doesn’t appear to be anything too serious, it does make you wonder.  Can Seattle use this injury to get Wilkerson out of the lineup or off the roster entirely?

Wilkerson has landed on the DL in all of his past three seasons, so such a thing would be nothing new.  Unfortunately, Wlad Balentien was recently injured and, while nothing too serious, is still hurting and will be taking it slow.  He probably won’t make it back into a game until the weekend at the earliest, and Seattle would probably give him extra time before calling him up to replace Wilkerson (should he be placed on the disabled list).  That said, if Seattle does need an emergency starting right fielder they would likely call up our old pal Jeremy Reed.  Charlton Jimerson is no longer on the 40-man roster, so I doubt he’d get consideration, and Reed is a more consistent hitter anyway. 

While Reed doesnt exactly offer the pop Seattle needs, it would be nice to see Seattle forced into using someone other than Wilkerson.  Perhaps it would open the door for Wlad a few weeks down the road, perhaps not.  Either way, something needs to happen unless Seattle wants to play .500 ball for the rest of the year.

Wilkerson’s hamstring injury could be nothing at all, but here’s to hoping.  I’ll keep you updated once I find something out.

(AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)