By Bob Dutton
The News Tribune
ANAHEIM, Calif. — With James Paxton requiring at least a few more days to recover from a bruised elbow, the Mariners recalled right-hander Cody Martin from Triple-A Tacoma prior to Tuesday’s game at Angel Stadium.
Martin will start Wednesday against the Angels, while right-hander Joe Wieland, who started Aug. 12 at Oakland, will shift to a long-relief role. The Mariners placed Paxton on the 15-day disabled list.
“It’s exciting,” Martin said. “I’ve pretty much started the whole year in Tacoma and, really, the last five years of my career. Getting to start in the big leagues is what I want to do and where I want my career to go.”
This marks Martin’s third recall of the season. He was 1-2 with a 2.70 ERA while allowing three runs in 10 innings over five previous relief appearances. He is 9-7 at Tacoma with a 3.93 ERA in 23 games, including 18 starts.
Paxton’s time on the disabled list is retroactive to Aug. 8, which means he can’t return until Aug. 23. He was hit in the elbow by a line drive on Aug. 7 in the ninth inning of a 3-1 victory over the Angels at Safeco Field.
“The swelling is down,” he said. “We’re just being careful. We’re hoping for a bullpen (workout) on Thursday.”
Paxton appeared on track to start Tuesday after throwing a bullpen workout Saturday and reporting no day-after problems. But swelling appeared Monday in his forearm, which prompted the move.
The Mariners believe it will be a temporary setback. The tentative plan projects Paxton to return next week to the rotation after throwing a simulated game or making an abbreviate minor-league rehab start.
“You’re probably looking middle-to-late next week,” manager Scott Servais said. “We want to make sure he’s 100 percent. It’s our decision. He wants to go pitch, but we want to do the smart thing.
“(Paxton will need) a sim(ulated) game or to go out and face some hitters. I don’t want to have him down for two weeks, or 16-17 days, without him facing any hitters.”
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