Miguel Batista returns to the Mariners’ starting rotation tonight and R.A. Dickey is back in the bullpen.

Next week? Next month? It’s hard to look beyond this week.

All manager Jim Riggleman would say Sunday was that Batista would start tonight against the Twins (who torched him the last time he started) and at least one more time, and the off day Thursday will allow him to build an extra day of rest into everyone’s schedule.

Two weeks from now, some pitchers could be resting a lot longer than others.

With Carlos Silva expected to return from the disabled list and Brandon Morrow scheduled to be called up from Class AAA Tacoma in his conversion from a reliever, the Mariners will have more starters than places to pitch them in September.

The rotation currently consists of Batista, Ryan Rowland-Smith, Ryan Feierabend, Felix Hernandez and Jarrod Washburn.

It would appear that Dickey, who has started 13 games this season, finally is in the bullpen to stay. But Riggleman wouldn’t say that.

“He’ll pitch out of the pen and if we need him to start he’ll start,” Riggleman said. “It just seems like every time we put him in the pen, something happens where we need to start him. I imagine there will be a likelihood it will come up again.”

With Batista, there’s been that possibility all season.

He’s 4-12 with a 6.55 ERA in 34 games, 19 of them starts. In his past start, Aug. 4 against the Twins at Safeco Field, he gave up seven hits and six runs before being lifted after three innings.

“Hopefully it goes well, and with the off day in Cleveland we might use that as an opportunity to give some guys an extra day’s rest throughout the rotation,” Riggleman said. “So Batista would start again, then we’re going to be looking at the Morrow situation and who’s spot he’s going to take.”

Of note: Kenji Johjima started his second straight game at catcher mainly because Jeff Clement’s right knee remained too sore for him to play. Riggleman said Jamie Burke probably would catch tonight against the Twins. … Mark Lowe was limping Sunday after suffering a bruised left foot Saturday when he was hit by a line drive from Frank Thomas. There were no broken bones and the Mariners were hopeful Lowe would miss only a few days. … Injured pitcher Erik Bedard threw off flat ground Sunday for the second time in a week. … Roy Corcoran was one out away from recording his first major league save when he walked Cliff Pennington in the ninth and was replaced by J.J. Putz. Corcoran has 82 minor league saves, including four this season for the Tacoma Rainiers.

Kirby Arnold, Herald Writer