Cliff Lee on the hill today, with most of the regulars behind him

Published 11:56 am Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Cliff Lee, whose left foot has been more stable than his fastball location lately, will face big-league hitters for the first time as a Mariner today when he pitches against the Texas Rangers in Surprise.

Behind Lee will be much of the Mariners’ regular defense, with the exception of Josh Wilson at third base instead of … well … for now, Jose Lopez.

Lee has been set back because of a minor procedure to remove a bone spur from his left foot on Feb. 5. Manager Don Wakamatsu says the foot is fine, although Lee’s control, especially with his fastball, has been hit and miss. He hit two batters last week in a simulated game against minor league batters.

Left-hander C.J. Wilson will start for the Rangers.

And speaking of Wilsons, Jack Wilson is back in the starting lineup for the Mariners after having his right hamstring tighten up on Friday.

Also, center fielder Franklin Gutierrez, who missed the first four games because of a sore right shoulder, will become the first Mariner to start three straight days. First baseman/DH Ryan Garko started games Saturday, Monday and Tuesday (Sunday’s game was rained out).

Here are today’s lineups:

MARINERS

Ichiro Suzuki, right field

Chone Figgins, second base

Milton Bradley, left field

Mike Sweeney, DH

Casey Kotchman, first base

Franklin Gutierrez, center field

Adam Moore, catcher,

Josh Wilson, third base

Jack Wilson, shortstop

Left-hander Cliff Lee, starting pitcher

RANGERS

Julio Borbon, center field

Esteban German, third base

David Murphy, left field

Vladimir Guerrero, DH

Chris Davis, first base

Mitsh Moreland, right field

Joaquin Arias, shortstop

Taylor Teagarden, catcher

Ray Olmedo, second base

Left-hander C.J. Wilson, starting pitcher