LISTEN: Jerry Dipoto provides Mariners injury updates and talks pitching staff Your browser does not support the audio element.

Kyle Seager has built a reputation as one of baseball’s most durable players in his seven seasons with the Mariners, but even an iron man goes down every once in a while.

Such was the case earlier this week, as Seager missed the final two games of Seattle’s homestand due to a stomach virus. It turned out to be a particularly nasty one, as general manager Jerry Dipoto shared with 710 ESPN Seattle’s “Danny, Dave and Moore” that the Mariners third baseman lost 12 pounds as a result of the two-day illness.

Alonso’s bat helps Mariners beat Orioles 7-6 to take series

The Mariners hope to have Seager back in the lineup for Friday’s 4:10 series opener in Tampa Bay on Friday.

“This one is a bit of a surprise,” Dipoto said. “This is very unique for Kyle. Kyle doesn’t miss games. We need him out there.”

Here are a couple other quick injury notes from Dipoto:

• Dipoto said neither of the Mariners’ three top starting pitchers – James Paxton, Felix Hernandez and Hisashi Iwakuma – are close to returning from the disabled list, though that could change soon with Paxton as he will have his pectoral strain looked at again by a doctor Friday. “Kuma’s back here in Seattle, as is Felix, as is Paxton, and we are taking it slowly and day by day,” Dipoto said. “We are optimistic about James, he sees the doctor again tomorrow and we’ll find out more. Felix is still not in a throwing program and we don’t anticipate that coming around the corner, but we do expect that he’ll be ready to pitch in September at some point, and Kuma is still a day-by-day exercise. He’ll let us know when he feels good enough to go pitch against hitters.”

• Mitch Haniger, who has been on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Tacoma after recovering from facial injuries, is days away from returning to Seattle. Dipoto added that Haniger is working on some adjustments, not the least of which is getting comfortable back in the batter’s box after getting hit by a pitch in the face.