M’s notes

Opponent: Toronto Blue Jays

When: 4:07 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, 9:37 a.m. Thursday.

Where: Rogers Centre in Toronto

TV: KSTW (Ch. 11) on Tuesday; FSN (cable) on Wednesday; no TV Thursday.

Radio: KOMO (1000 AM) all three games.

Pitchers: Tuesday – Seattle right-hander Aaron Sele (6-9, 4.77 earned run average) vs. left-hander Ted Lilly (7-9, 5.21). Wednesday – Right-hander Ryan Franklin (5-10, 4.35) vs. left-hander Gustavo Chacin (8-5, 3.81). Thursday – Right-hander Joel Pineiro (3-5, 5.61) vs. right-hander Josh Towers (6-7, 4.51).

Soriano report

Pitcher Rafael Soriano, who tested his sore shoulder by playing catch Sunday morning, said he feels fine and will throw in the bullpen Wednesday.

Whether or not that’s the blind optimism of a player eager to pitch again, the Mariners believe Soriano will return to the mound soon – if not this week.

“We want him to be able to feel 100 percent in his games of catch before we get him on the mound,” pitching coach Bryan Price said.

Soriano, who was nearing the end of his comeback from “Tommy John” elbow surgery last August, made seven minor league rehab appearances before coming down with shoulder soreness. Price believes once he throws successfully off the bullpen mound again, Soriano will be able to continue strengthening his arm in games.

“This isn’t a setback where he needs to stay on a throwing program for three weeks,” Price said. “We feel like this is a little blip and it shouldn’t be an extended problem.”

Soriano probably will return to Class AA San Antonio and, barring problems, step up to Class AAA Tacoma before returning to the Mariners.

“The thing we have yet to do is utilize him as you would any of the guys in the bullpen,” Price said. “It’s a matter of having the freedom (for a minor league manager) not to have to ask permission to use him on back-to-back days, or not be concerned about throwing two innings, having a day off and then throwing back-to-back days. That’s what our other guys are doing, but we haven’t gotten to that point yet with Raffy.

“When that point comes, then we can start to look at the possibility of him coming here and pitching for us.”

Return to glory: Catcher Pat Borders played his first seven big-league seasons in Toronto, including 1994 when he was the World Series MVP.

Even so, he doesn’t look at this week’s Mariners-Blue Jays series in Toronto with a sense of nostalgia.

“I’ve played with a lot of teams since then,” he said. “I don’t know anybody there anymore. None of the players are with them anymore and it’s a different coaching staff.”

Borders, 42, has started 31 games since he returned to the Mariners on May 20, and manager Mike Hargrove is trying to be careful not to wear him down during a time of the season that can be tough on catchers.

“It’s more of a feel thing as far as Pat’s energy level,” Hargrove said. “He is 42 years old and we’ve got to be careful how we use Pat.”

Borders says he is fine.

“I played more games than this in the minor leagues the last few years,” he said.

Of note: The Mariners activated utility player Dave Hansen (elbow tendinitis) from the disabled list after Sunday’s game and, to make room for him on the roster, optioned outfielder Chris Snelling to Class AAA Tacoma. … Miguel Olivo’s two-hit game Sunday – he singled and homered – was his first since May 15, when he had three hits against Boston. … The last time the Mariners scored eight or more runs at Safeco Field was June 19 against the Mets, when they scored 11. … The Mariners are 11-5 on Sundays this season, their only day of the week with a winning record. … Catcher Dan Wilson, out for the season because of a torn knee ligament, said he’s still six weeks to two months from being able to run. Most of his therapy consists of strengthening and range-of-motion exercises. … The Mariners have agreed to contract terms with Kuo-Hui Lo, a 19-year-old outfielder from Taiwan. Lo, a 6-foot-2, 190-pounder, played on the Chinese Taipei National Team the past two years.

Kirby Arnold, Herald writer