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Seattle Mariners

Mariners Pregame: Drew Smyly to 60-day DL; lineups and starters matchup

FILE - In this March 6, 2017, file photo, Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Drew Smyly throws against the Texas Rangers during the first inning of a spring training baseball game in Peoria, Ariz. Smyly will begin the season on the 60-day disabled list and could be out up to two months because of a strained left elbow. General manager Jerry Dipoto said Friday, March 31, 2017, that Smyly likely will miss six to eight weeks. (Matt York / Associated Press)
By Dave Nichols daven@spokesman.com(509) 459-5441

The Seattle Mariners transferred LHP Drew Smyly to the 60-day disabled list with a left arm flexor strain and claimed RHP Evan Marshall off waivers from the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Smyly, 27, was one of GM Jerry Dipoto’s prized acquisitions over the offseason. The lefty pitched well at the World Baseball Classic and appeared in three Cactus League games for the Mariners before experiencing discomfort.

After second and third opinions, Smyly was shut down and reportedly received a platlet-rich-plasma (PRP) injection. He’ll begin rehabbing after six weeks.

Marshall, 26 (27 on April 18), has been optioned and will report to AAA Tacoma. In 15 appearances with Arizona last season, he posted an 8.80 ERA (15 ER, 15.1 IP) with 9 strikeouts in 15 relief appearances.

Obviously, this isn’t good news. The Mariners had a razon-thin margin of error with the rotation and they’ve used up whatever wiggle room they had with Smyly missing at least one-third of the season. It falls to Ariel Miranda to step up into Smyly’s spot in the rotation and the team might be forced to look outside the organization for Major League depth.

Also: Mariners manager Scott Servais didn’t commit to Felix Hernandez making his next start on Saturday against the Los Angeles Angels, but Hernandez insisted he’ll be ready to go and that he exited the Opening Day 3-0 loss as a precaution.

Lineups and starter matchup

Game 2: Seattle Mariners (0-1) at Houston Astros (1-0), 5:10 p.m. PT

Courtesy Seattle Mariners
Courtesy Seattle Mariners

Starters matchup: RHP Hisashi Iwakuma (2016: 16-12, 4.12 ERA, 1.327 WHIP) vs. RHP Lance McCullers (2016: 6-5, 3.22 ERA, 1.543 WHIP)

Game Notes

  • Opening day starter Felix Hernandez struck out 6 in 5.0 innings pitched last night to bring his career strikeout total to 2,270, surpassing Lefty Grove (2,266) for 51st on the all-time Major League leaderboard for career strikeouts.
  • Hernandez now has 74 career strikeouts in 10 Opening Day starts, moving past Roger Clemens (72) for the fifth-most strikeouts in Opening Day games in ML history.
  • 2B Robinson Canó has now hit safely in 11 of his 12 career Opening Day games, batting .313 (15x48) with 7 runs, 3 doubles, 1 home run and 3 RBI in 12 openers.
  • SS Jean Segura has recorded three multi-hit games in five career Opening Day games.
  • Seattle held its opponents to three runs or fewer on Opening Day for the 11th consecutive season (2007-c).
  • The Mariners were shutout on Opening Day for the fourth time in club history (last: 4/1/03 at Oakland).