TODAY
Opponent: L.A. Angels
When: 1:10 p.m.
Where: Safeco Field
TV: None
Radio: ESPN (710 AM)
Pitchers: Seattle left-hander Ryan Rowland-Smith (0-4, 7.24 earned run average) vs. right-hander Ervin Santana (5-3, 3.43).
Fister ailing; Rowland-Smith to start
Because Doug Fister is suffering from shoulder fatigue, Ryan Rowland-Smith becomes a starter again today and he promises a much different mindset than he had in eight mostly difficult starts early this season.
“I’m just going to go out and pitch and enjoy the process of it,” he said. “When I’m in the first inning, I’m not going to be thinking about the fourth inning. I just want to get back to where I enjoy it and it’s not life or death.”
He admitted it seemed that way early this season, when Rowland-Smith went 0-4 with a 7.62 ERA before he was pulled from the starting rotation.
“I was getting too caught up in things,” he said. “I’m going to go out and back my ability because I’ve done it over and over. I’m going to understand that this is something I’ve enjoyed since I was a kid, and I’m going to enjoy the process.”
Rowland-Smith said it may have taken getting away from the every-fifth-day starting regimen for him to relax and approach his work from a pitch-by-pitch standpoint. Since his last start May 17, he has pitched three times in relief, working two innings without allowing an earned run.
“You just put everything into perspective,” he said. “If you’re doing something you love and you’re worrying about it, there’s no point in doing it at all. That’s what I’m trying to do. My stuff and my ability will take care of the rest if I go out and enjoy myself.”
Manager Don Wakamatsu said Rowland-Smith would be limited to 75-90 pitches today.
No worries over Fister, for now
The Mariners had noticed a drop in Fister’s fastball velocity in his recent starts, particularly in Monday’s game against the Twins, but they believe his shoulder issue isn’t serious and he’ll miss only today’s start.
“If it was up to him, he’d like to continue to start,” Wakamatsu said. “We’ve been prodding a little bit with the velocity being down, asking, ‘Hey, are you 100 percent?’ He finally admitted that his shoulder is a little tired. Just about every pitcher at some point gets dead arm or some type of fatigue, and it just happens to be now.”
Fister pitched a career-high 173 innings last year (minor and major leagues combined) but is on pace to pitch well over 230 this year if he maintains his average of seven innings per start.
“When I talk about keeping an eye on young pitchers … you try to project out the workload,” Wakamatsu said. “You know at some point, either through fatigue or by choice, that you’re going to regulate that workload.”
Wakamastu expects Fister to pitch next Thursday in the final game of a series at Texas.
Of note
With Mike Sweeney still dealing with back problems, Friday night’s lineup had Milton Bradley at DH, Ryan Langerhans in left field and Matt Tuiasosopo at first base. Wakamatsu said Sweeney’s status is day-to-day. … The Mariners have changed course with catcher Adam Moore (left knee) and will send him to their facility in Peoria, Ariz., to catch in two simulated games. Wakamatsu said if Moore comes through those fine, he’ll begin a rehab assignment in the middle of next week at Class AAA Tacoma. Moore caught Jason Vargas’ bullpen session Friday afternoon and felt fine. … Shortstop Jack Wilson (right hamstring) is expected to play five or six innings Sunday with Tacoma in the first game of his rehab assignment. … Erik Bedard threw in the bullpen Friday and, if he feels OK today, will throw another bullpen in three days, Wakamatsu said.
— Kirby Arnold, Herald Writer
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