MARINERS

No game Thursday, but that doesn't mean there wasn't some news.

The biggest concerns the M's pitching, which is about to enter a month-long stretch in which most of the injured arms will be coming back.

There's Mark Lowe, out since last year, a year in which he exploded on to the M's scene with his high-90s fastball and his major league command. He's scheduled to begin a minor league rehab stint next week.

There's Horacio Ramirez, one of the starters who has been watching for a while. He'll probably make three minor league starts and then return.

And there are more, all detailed in this P-I story.

One thing's for certain. When the M's face Toronto tonight (7:05; FSN; 920-AM), J.J. Putz will be ready in the bullpen and he's an All-Star. And he's healthy.

• No hot list today, but there is one more fall-down funny story. It's about third-base coach Carlos Garcia and the line drives he's had to avoid lately. There is also one more Junior piece, this one from USA Today's Hal Bodley.

• And our question of the day …

• Of all the pitchers returning soon, who will have the most impact and why?

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