Mariners notebook: A number of regulars still under the weather

PEORIA, Ariz. – Mariners manager Scott Servais was ready and waiting with his injury/illness report when the media entered his office Monday morning. From the sick bay:

• Robinson Cano and Nelson Cruz both participated in workouts Monday morning and the hope is they will be back in the lineup on Tuesday. Both have been battling the nasty head cold that has made its way through the clubhouse. I spoke briefly with Cano and he sounded horrible, Cruz a little better. With five Cactus League games remaining, Servais believes they should have no trouble getting ready for opening day. “If those guys were 24 years old, I would be a little more concerned, but where they are in their career, and they were playing at a very high level of competition a week ago, they will be fine,” Servais said.

• Jarrod Dyson was scheduled to get extra at-bats in a minor-league game Monday, hitting in each inning. He most likely will not be in the lineup on Tuesday so it might not be until later in the week when we see the full lineup together.

• Tony Zych checked out of his first game action just fine. A scout I talked to had him at 94-95 with the fastball and noted good life on his pitches. On Sunday, Servais said that Zych will be starting the season in Tacoma and it looks like they are sticking to that as we were told Zych might get the rest of his innings this spring in minor-league games. Servais plans to use his bullpen situationally the rest of the way rather than schedule innings for relievers, something he would need to do for Zych.

• Steve Cishek continues to make progress, better than anticipated, according to Servais. Cishek has thrown two bullpens so far and a full plan to get ready for the season will soon be mapped out. He will need six or seven outings before he is ready to return.

• The Mariners are backing off the throwing plan for Shae Simmons, who suffered a forearm strain early in camp. Servais said that they don’t believe there is any serious setback but that team doctor Ed Khalfayan wants to take another look at him.

• With the doctor in town, Shawn O’Malley will have an examination on his shoulder, which has bothered him all spring. O’Malley is still recovering from an appendectomy.

Still not complete lineup …

Leonys Martin, CF
Jean Segura, SS
Kyle Seager, 3B
Danny Valencia, 1B
Mike Zunino, DH
Ben Gamel, RF
Guillermo Heredia, LF
Tuffy Gosewisch, C
Mike Freeman, 2B

Yovani Gallardo, RHP

Also scheduled to pitch: Marc Rzepczynski, Edwin Diaz, James Pazos, Nick Vincent.

Notes

• A name we haven’t mentioned a ton this spring is Kyle Seager. Always working on something with the bat, Seager came to camp with some changes he wanted to incorporate at the plate. After a slow start, Servais has seen Seager take a new/old approach, which appears to be more comfortable for him.

“He’s looked much better the last three-four games,” Servais said. “He was doing some things early in camp that looked very abnormal to me but finally got to the point where he said, ‘I’m going to take the adjustment that I am trying to make that maybe I am not getting the greatest results,’ and kind of incorporate some of the things that did look more natural for him. His timing, his rhythm, what he’s got going on with his hands … he looks more like he did last year, the results are starting to come. He will be there when the bell rings.”

• Pitching plans for the final week of Cactus League play:

Tuesday vs. Arizona: Felix Hernandez
Wednesday vs. Dodgers: Hisashi Iwkauma
Thursday: Off
Friday vs. Colorado: Drew Smyly and James Paxton
Saturday at Colorado: Yovani Gallardo

Each starter is scheduled to throw just three innings in their final tuneups for the regular season.

Follow @shannondrayer