Ache-and-pain report: Saunders improving but not ready (plus lineups)

The Mariners are rolling out the same lineup as last night, and before you cringe again at Casey Kotchman batting third or the four hitters in the lineup batting .240 or lower, this is the crew that beat on Jack Greinke last night.

Ryan Langerhans is back in left field because Michael Saunders remains sore after his crash into the wall Thursday night. Manager Don Wakamatsu said he probably would miss a couple more games.

Other notes:

As we wrote last night, Erik Bedard had bone spurs removed from his left shoulder on Friday. Wakamatsu said the labrum, which was repaired last August, was in good shape. Still, Bedard is finished for this season but he should be at full strength by spring training, Wakamatsu said.

Whose spring training?

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Wakamatsu said that’s for the Mariners’ front office to determine. A few minutes ago, Bedard told reporters that he wouldn’t be opposed to returning.

  • Reliever Shawn Kelley had both an MRI and CAT scan on his sore right elbow on Friday. The MRI didn’t show anything, but because Kelley had Tommy John surgery seven years ago, he said an MRI image sometimes can be distorted. The CAT scan is expected to show whether there’s a problem with the bone, although the Mariners don’t have the results of that yet.
  • Here are tonight’s lineups:

    ROYALS

    Grego Blanco, center field

    Jason Kendall, catcher

    Billy Butler, DH

    Kila Ka’aihue, first base

    Wilson Betemit, third base

    Alex Gordon, left field

    Mitch Maier, right field

    Mike Aviles, shortstop

    Chris Getz, second base

    Left-hander Bruce Chen (6-5, 4.74), starting pitcher

    MARINERS

    Ichiro Suzuki, right field

    Chone Figgins, second base

    Casey Kotchman, first base

    Russell Branyan, DH

    Franklin Gutierrez, center field

    Jose Lopez, third base

    Adam Moore, catcher

    Ryan Langerhans, left field

    Jack Wilson, shortstop

    Right-hander David Pauley (0-3, 3.47), starting pitcher

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