Mariners Noon Number: 12

Sat., May 27, 2017

By Dave Nichols daven@spokesman.com (509) 459-5441

Saturday’s Seattle Mariners starter Rob Whalen will be the 12th starter the team has used already this season.

It’s no wonder the M’s are 21-28, mired in last place in the A.L. West, losers of six of their last seven. It’s hard enough to win Major League Baseball games with a big league staff, let alone with four-fifths of your projected opening day rotation on the disabled list and being forced to trot out triple-A guy after triple-A guy in a patchwork rotation.

Whalen, 23, makes his first start for Seattle after missing most of the spring with shoulder and calf issues. He went 1-2 last season with a 6.57 ERA in five starts for Atlanta.

There might be some good news on the horizon. LHP James Paxton made a rehab appearance for the double-A Arkansas Travelers on Friday. In four innings he allowed two runs on five hits and no walks with five strikeouts. did give up a home run and threw 38 of his 55 pitches for strikes.

Paxton could be in line to start for the M’s on Wednesday if his side session on Monday goes according to plan.

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Mariners Noon Number: 12

Jesse Tinsley

Jim Meehan

Molly Quinn

Rob Curley

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