When: 7:05 p.m.
Where: Safeco Field
TV: Fox Sports Net (cable)
Radio: KIRO (710 AM)
Pitchers: Seattle left-hander Jamie Moyer (19-6, 3.46 earned run average) vs. right-hander Rick Helling (12-10, 5.11).
Guillen goes home: Mariners shortstop Carlos Guillen was dismissed from the hospital Thursday morning and will spend at least a week resting at his Seattle residence before it will be known when, or if, he will return to the team during the playoffs.
Guillen was diagnosed with tuberculosis last Friday and was hospitalized Saturday. On Wednesday, he underwent a minor surgical procedure to control bleeding in one of his lungs.
“He will be re-examined next Wednesday,” said Dr. Mitch Storey, the team physician. “We’ll make no prediction as to when he’ll return to play.”
Storey released few details about Guillen’s condition, but said the player obviously is fatigued from his illness.
“He’s fairly tired from being in the hospital,” Storey said. “I met with him yesterday in the hospital and he’s feeling better.”
All of the Mariners, plus manager Lou Piniella, the coaches and several front-office executives, were given tuberculosis tests on Thursday. Results will be known by 2 p.m. Saturday, but Storey said they will not be made public.
Storey is confident nobody on the team has tuberculosis, and he said that no other player has shown symptoms.
Health report: The beat-up Mariners are showing signs of getting well.
Star utility player Mark McLemore, out for a week because of a sore left knee, returned to the lineup Thursday. Third baseman David Bell, who hasn’t played since Sept. 10 because of a ribcage injury, will start today.
“I probably could have played tonight,” said Bell, who took a full round of batting practice without pain for the second straight day.
Piniella said Bell will play in three of the four games against the Rangers and McLemore, a switch-hitter, might play in every game.
Going for the record: Piniella said he wants to give his regulars at least a day of rest this weekend, but his plan may hinge on history.
If the Mariners need a victory Sunday to set either the American League or major league single-season record, Piniella will go for it.
“We’re going to try to get it done, but within the framework of getting our bench some work and getting our starters rested for Tuesday (the first day of the playoffs),” Piniella said.
The Mariners need one victory to tie the 1998 New York Yankees’ American League record of 114 victories and three to tie the 1906 Chicago Cubs’ major league mark.
Papa has a new name: Two days after Edgar Martinez angrily charged the mound after being hit by a pitch in Anaheim, his teammates were playfully tossing around some new nicknames for the guy affectionately known as “Papa.”
There was “Volcano,” for obvious reasons, and then the moniker laid on him by Bret Boone.
“I call him Lucifer,” Boone said.
Man of the month: Ichiro Suzuki was named the American League’s rookie of the month for September, his fourth such award this season. Only in June and July did he not win the award.
Suzuki batted .337 and led all AL rookies in hits, runs scored and steals.
Luis Rivas of the Minnesota Twins and Joel Pineiro of the Mariners finished second and third, respectively.
Kirby Arnold
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