TORONTO - Mariners first baseman Russell Branyan is still experiencing pain in his lower back and may not play again this season.
Branyan, who leads Seattle with a career-high 31 homers, has been out since Aug. 29 with a herniated disk. He took batting practice Thursday and Friday and hit off a tee Saturday and Sunday because the Mariners did not take BP.
Seattle had hoped to get Branyan back sometime in the final week of the season, but manager Don Wakamatsu said Sunday there may not be enough time for him to return.
"It doesn't look real promising right now that he'll finish the year," he said.
Branyan also has played for Cleveland, Milwaukee, San Diego, Tampa Bay, Philadelphia and St. Louis in a 12-year career. He's batting .251 with 76 RBIs in 116 games this season.
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