Seattle Mariners shut down LHP Roenis Elias with elbow injury

The Seattle Mariners announced Monday that left-hander Roenis Elias is done for the season, and likely any postseason the Mariners may find themselves involved in, with an elbow injury.

Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik announced prior to Monday’s game in Toronto that Elias has a strained flexor bundle in his elbow and won’t be able to throw for four to six weeks.

More from MLB

The Cuban national signed as a free agent with the Mariners in May 2011 and made the big-league club out of spring training this year, making his debut on April 3.

In 29 starts this season, Elias is 10-12 with a 3.85 ERA and 1.314 WHIP in 163.2 innings, striking out 143.

He last pitched Sept. 16 against the Angels, coming out with pain in his elbow after three innings.

Elias improved in the second half of the season, even if his record didn’t bear that out. Before the break, Elias was 7-8 with a 4.54 ERA and 1.265 WHIP in 113 innings over 19 starts.

In 10 starts after the All-Star Game, Elias was 3-4 with a 2.31 ERA and 1.421 WHIP in 50.2 innings.

Elias made the jump from Double-A to the majors this year. In 2013, at Double-A Jackson, he was 6-11 with a 3.18 ERA and 1.246 WHIP in 22 starts and 130 innings.

Elias pitched at two Rookie levels and Class-A in 2011 and worked the entire 2012 season at High-A High Desert.

He did make one start at Triple-A Tacoma in August, when he was skipped a start and sent down to stay on his regular schedule, throwing five no-hit innings against New Orleans on Aug. 13.