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Seattle Mariners

Mariners’ pitching merry-go-round continues with recall of Dan Altavilla

Dan Altavilla is back for his third stint with the Mariners this season. (Elaine Thompson / Associated Press)
By Bob Dutton Tacoma News Tribune

TORONTO – Reliever Dan Altavilla returned Sunday to the Mariners as the latest move in their ever-changing bullpen mix.

The Mariners recalled Altavilla from Triple-A Tacoma prior to their series finale against the Toronto Blue Jays at the Rogers Centre after placing right-hander Ryan Weber on the 10-day disabled list because of a strained biceps muscle.

Weber suffered the injury Saturday in the fourth inning after being promoted earlier in the day from Tacoma to patch the latest hole in the club’s injury-depleted rotation.

This is Altavilla’s third big-league tour of the season. He opened the season on the Mariners roster but was optioned April 21 to Tacoma. He was recalled May 6 and optioned again on May 10.

Because Altavilla, 24, is replacing a player on the disabled list, he is not subject to the normal 10-day minimum span before an optioned player can be recalled. He is 1-1 with a 6.97 ERA this season in 12 big-league games.

Weber becomes the club’s eighth pitcher currently on the disabled list. He was 5-0 with an 0.85 ERA in six games at Tacoma prior to his promotion. He gained a no-decision Saturday after allowing one run in 3 2/3 innings against the Blue Jays.

“The pitch before I came out of the game,” he said, “I felt like I got stabbed right in my biceps. I thought it was a cramp. There were two outs. I thought I could get this guy out, go back to the dugout, sit down and go back out there.

“I went to throw that next pitch and the same feeling …for that to happen in my first outing, it’s just really frustrating.”

The Mariners are expected to make another roster move prior to Monday’s series opener against Oakland at Safeco Field by activating veteran reliever Steve Cishek from the disabled list.

Cishek pitched a scoreless inning Saturday for Tacoma as part of his latest rehab assignment in his recovery from October surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left hip. He was 4-6 with 25 saves and a 2.81 ERA last season in 62 games.